tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:46:03 +0000awesomenessshop newseventsbike pornrace reviewridessaletravelstuffTrail ConditionsreviewGPS MapsaBikeworks Albuquerque - Albuquerque, New Mexico bike shop - est. 2007Shop website for Bikeworks Albuquerque, and shop blog, all wrapped up in one convenient package.http://www.bikeworksabq.com/noreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)Blogger385125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-2105569654354649812Tue, 04 Jul 2017 13:58:00 +00002017-07-04T07:58:50.718-06:00CLOSED FOR THE 4TH OF JULYHey Everybody,<br />we are closed July 4th, for the 4th of July, because of course we are. Woot woot, try not to blow off any fingers!http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2017/07/closed-for-4th-of-july.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-8387983030025467339Thu, 02 Mar 2017 05:58:00 +00002017-03-01T22:58:10.682-07:00race reviewtravelRace Report: Zia Rides Tommyknocker 10, 2017 EditionIt's almost spring, so that means it's time once again to get out and do some bike racing in some uncomfortably cold almost-spring New Mexico weather.<br /><br />So last weekend I (Lucero) loaded up my new battlewagon, aka Code Brown, aka The Funmobile, and headed down to Silver City for the 3rd annual running of the Zia Rides Tommyknocker 10 race.<br />This race is the only 10 hour race in a series of 12 hour, and one 24 hour, races. The 10 hour format is to accommodate the short daylight in February, and avoid the need of using lights, in case you were wondering.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zX8NGqY6yCg/WLeoe2vNhDI/AAAAAAAADqE/Uqu7RAXyeiM7M3AiqhrtYGM7OHu62IHlwCLcB/s1600/Tommyknocker10-Mountain-Bike-Race.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zX8NGqY6yCg/WLeoe2vNhDI/AAAAAAAADqE/Uqu7RAXyeiM7M3AiqhrtYGM7OHu62IHlwCLcB/s1600/Tommyknocker10-Mountain-Bike-Race.png" /></a></div><br /><br />Just in its third year, this race has grown very quickly in popularity and it sold out for 2017. Being very caught up in the effort of moving the shop (did you hear, we moved!), by the time I realized the race was coming up it was already sold out. Fortunately John The Viking found himself in need of a last minute teammate substitute, and I was the man for the job.<br /><br />With a Friday afternoon planned departure, the Mark Castelo and I found out on Thursday evening that we were both planning to drive out alone. So I invited the Mark Castelo to join me in Code Brown for a noisy, slightly below speed limit, and windblown trip. &nbsp;Thankfully he joined me, and we had a good ol' fashioned buddy adventure on our hands.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFNyN7ipUmw/WLeqJZreVNI/AAAAAAAADqM/rKC59wuufB034AKojjmAqOURt3gdgWj9QCLcB/s1600/IMG_8628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KFNyN7ipUmw/WLeqJZreVNI/AAAAAAAADqM/rKC59wuufB034AKojjmAqOURt3gdgWj9QCLcB/s320/IMG_8628.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The one and only Mark Castelo, never not smiling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We made it to the race venue without any trouble, which was nice, because a) I don't 100% expect my new (old) van to make it through every road trip without trouble, and b) I didn't 100% expect my new bike rack setup to actually succeed in holding onto the bikes on the interstate with very strong winds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4L6F06LY3Q/WLesSwNp1LI/AAAAAAAADqY/_NRnfDivQwoCJz2HvUj8wfoy-6F8rqnCQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q4L6F06LY3Q/WLesSwNp1LI/AAAAAAAADqY/_NRnfDivQwoCJz2HvUj8wfoy-6F8rqnCQCLcB/s320/IMG_8613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As seen above, I decided to take two bikes to race on, a brand new Devinci Django 29 with a custom build kit and Shimano XT Di2 electronic drivetrain, and our Yeti SB5+ demo bike set up with 29" wheels. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Both bikes rode awesome, and I would have to spend significantly more time on each to figure out which one I liked better. And both bikes are now (still) completely caked in mud and an utter mess.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhhtNWzowF8/WLetrl1Xm1I/AAAAAAAADqg/S42ZW-AzWJEQW88KHJGygYbeoZe3HHOmACLcB/s1600/IMG_8620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhhtNWzowF8/WLetrl1Xm1I/AAAAAAAADqg/S42ZW-AzWJEQW88KHJGygYbeoZe3HHOmACLcB/s320/IMG_8620.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOwjm_b3aHw/WLetrchZCpI/AAAAAAAADqk/Av1mEB5L2xsY_tqA4zFb_wzJfNcGezWaACLcB/s1600/IMG_8621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOwjm_b3aHw/WLetrchZCpI/AAAAAAAADqk/Av1mEB5L2xsY_tqA4zFb_wzJfNcGezWaACLcB/s320/IMG_8621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why so muddy? Well, this year there was 8 (or 9 or 10) stream crossing per 12 mile lap on course. And a couple of the stream crossing were decently big, as in you had to put in a pedal stroke or two to get through, and deep enough that if you hit them with speed you were soaked from the waist down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These steam crossing were the talk of the race. Mostly because the temperatures were in the low thirties over night, and I'd be surprised if it hit 50 during race day. So everybody had soaking cold wet feet by about mile 2, and was finishing their laps with numb toes. I have no idea how the solo riders were handling it, as I was so happy to have an hour in between laps to change socks and shoes and get my feet dry and warmed up.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite the cold windy weather, and all the frozen toes, everybody I saw out at the race was enjoying themselves tremendously. &nbsp;As usual, it was all good spirits, high fives, hoots and hollers, and plenty of pints and pizza as the race drew to a close and we watched the final racers come across the finish line.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUtLeparAw4/WLexFGTCB4I/AAAAAAAADq4/sscU0qNfzvMPfiWk2sUomOtdJGVOkuJAACLcB/s1600/IMG_8625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUtLeparAw4/WLexFGTCB4I/AAAAAAAADq4/sscU0qNfzvMPfiWk2sUomOtdJGVOkuJAACLcB/s320/IMG_8625.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Dr.Dave and The Dr.Brad, happy and worn out from their solo races.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7p7wSjM2n0/WLexFQWtS-I/AAAAAAAADq8/o_8GW--v9x4qMjVWwCf0mdPAxgqT6hoNgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T7p7wSjM2n0/WLexFQWtS-I/AAAAAAAADq8/o_8GW--v9x4qMjVWwCf0mdPAxgqT6hoNgCLcB/s320/IMG_8626.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The MV, looking like he's about to cause some trouble.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ld5QG2TrLW8/WLexHi2zo_I/AAAAAAAADrA/y7kupbgFxK8K-_tWwvRiPd4XyChE-BPNgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ld5QG2TrLW8/WLexHi2zo_I/AAAAAAAADrA/y7kupbgFxK8K-_tWwvRiPd4XyChE-BPNgCLcB/s320/IMG_8631.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Trevor, who's 10 year old rode 3 laps (36 miles!) with him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />We were rewarded with a wonderful sunset.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V21G1_WC1fY/WLex96MaPsI/AAAAAAAADrI/9qkP7nB4gp8cW7JqENJaQwLKe-9oJGwQQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V21G1_WC1fY/WLex96MaPsI/AAAAAAAADrI/9qkP7nB4gp8cW7JqENJaQwLKe-9oJGwQQCLcB/s320/IMG_8632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And everybody was handed a birthday hat and we sang happy birthday to Seth, el Capitan of Zia Rides, and he turned 40 that day (ewww, old, gross).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg87b8GM8uQ/WLeylApeELI/AAAAAAAADrM/hAjOFXHnM3QbUBktmDYjL-PNAMjjBPjBACLcB/s1600/IMG_8633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg87b8GM8uQ/WLeylApeELI/AAAAAAAADrM/hAjOFXHnM3QbUBktmDYjL-PNAMjjBPjBACLcB/s320/IMG_8633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">John the Viking and I were out to enjoy ourselves, and just put in a couple of good efforts, with no goals of getting on the podium (and we succeeded in enjoying ourselves and we got nowhere near the podium, win win!). &nbsp;Jay and Kevin, racing for our newly formed Elevate PHW / Bikeworks ABQ race team, did manage to take the win in the Mens Duo category (again). And team member Vern picked up the 3rd place trophy in the Mens Duo with Barry on his team.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tL3UTx05mo/WLewAcF8G9I/AAAAAAAADqs/pgENlMiKpaUdYK1zj-DtVkjpKDZ4vRf3wCLcB/s1600/IMG_8638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3tL3UTx05mo/WLewAcF8G9I/AAAAAAAADqs/pgENlMiKpaUdYK1zj-DtVkjpKDZ4vRf3wCLcB/s320/IMG_8638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a great weekend, during which I never really felt warm, rode my mountain bike more than I have in months, filthied up a couple of brand new bikes, and totally didn't even break down once in Code Brown (I've heard there were some bets against me, no love for the 30 year old VW's!). &nbsp;We are all now fired up to have mountain bike race season back upon us. Plans are being hatched for the next Zia Rides event, 12 Hours in the Wild West, in Ruidoso in April. &nbsp;You should join, I expect it will be much warmer, there will be fewer (or zero) river crossings, and we can all camp out, drink too many beers, an have sore legs and sore cheeks from laughing and smiling so much.</div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2017/03/race-report-zia-rides-tommyknocker-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-8401013313745844025Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:48:00 +00002017-01-25T17:48:49.759-07:00Moving Time!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W64TjiR-KeI/WIlFDi-5oyI/AAAAAAAADnw/mf4J-fKl3ikEwTlch_MualpJFxmDDv3NgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W64TjiR-KeI/WIlFDi-5oyI/AAAAAAAADnw/mf4J-fKl3ikEwTlch_MualpJFxmDDv3NgCLcB/s320/IMG_8577.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Hey everybody, we are heading to a new, and much nicer, location. &nbsp;Which means we will be closed the rest of this week, Thursday Jan. 26th through Sunday Jan. 29th.<br />We will be open there Monday the 30th at 8am.<br /><br />Our new address is...<br />2920 Stanford Dr. NE Suite 180<br />Albuquerque NM, 87107<br /><br />It's over there in the "brewery district". So if you know how to get to La Cumbre, The Canteen, Left Turn Distillery, and 365 Distillery, you'll be able to find us.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/2920+Stanford+Dr+NE,+Albuquerque,+NM+87107/@35.1139307,-106.6192287,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x872274b031e4bd99:0x4a06866025badee0!8m2!3d35.1136762!4d-106.6165679" target="_blank">Here, let me google that for you..&nbsp;</a><br /><br />Here are a few pics of our new spot (it doesn't have any stuff in it yet, but just you wait!)....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8c7rmOj2xiE/WIlGPbon4TI/AAAAAAAADoE/MNpQ0sGg50MJJ2xNRwd_8GyMe4BO4Zt5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_8534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8c7rmOj2xiE/WIlGPbon4TI/AAAAAAAADoE/MNpQ0sGg50MJJ2xNRwd_8GyMe4BO4Zt5QCLcB/s320/IMG_8534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbB94ltM-qE/WIlGPBAQFRI/AAAAAAAADn8/VqB_jzaXuwsa1m-4U_v7xaoceV-aMq3_QCLcB/s1600/IMG_8540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbB94ltM-qE/WIlGPBAQFRI/AAAAAAAADn8/VqB_jzaXuwsa1m-4U_v7xaoceV-aMq3_QCLcB/s320/IMG_8540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LPLW5Jw4DE/WIlGPFB8Q7I/AAAAAAAADoA/EPTmACyeMQIZAnf80Qdo5-UHNz_WEYITACLcB/s1600/IMG_8542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LPLW5Jw4DE/WIlGPFB8Q7I/AAAAAAAADoA/EPTmACyeMQIZAnf80Qdo5-UHNz_WEYITACLcB/s320/IMG_8542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6_kpqcHTlA/WIlGQQsPzgI/AAAAAAAADoI/P6qAjvb1xnQmHCdcYxauHqvWxdj9sNdAQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X6_kpqcHTlA/WIlGQQsPzgI/AAAAAAAADoI/P6qAjvb1xnQmHCdcYxauHqvWxdj9sNdAQCLcB/s320/IMG_8548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2017/01/moving-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-6775362779127282896Wed, 27 Jul 2016 01:50:00 +00002016-07-26T19:50:23.371-06:00awesomenesstravelYeti Tribe 2016: Uncompahgre Plateau <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hi, this is Lucille speaking...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duvO723J4SY/V5gFnphQ7HI/AAAAAAAADdE/Xe2kGxPLHk4VT6yhLZOzDFOPRifAQEf3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-duvO723J4SY/V5gFnphQ7HI/AAAAAAAADdE/Xe2kGxPLHk4VT6yhLZOzDFOPRifAQEf3ACLcB/s400/IMG_7889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We rolled up to the Yeti Tribe gathering. There was a little check in table, a waiver to sign, a T shirt to be gotten, etc. &nbsp;And a personalized sticker for your bike, a nice memento and a way to keep everybody's bikes straight (it can get complicated when there are hundreds of Yetis laying around). &nbsp;This was my first trip to the Tribe, but I had seen these stickers on customers bikes, and was looking forward to getting one of my own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The check in table was being ran by children, girls in the 10 to 12 year old range if I had to guess. &nbsp;We already had these girls a little flustered, because there were four of us talking over each other, and asking them questions they weren't there to answer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"So what's your name"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Dan Lucero"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Hmm, I don't see that sticker here. Do you have a nick name?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Errr, no."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"There's a Lucille sticker, is that you?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"No, thats not me."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then the girl proceeds to look through all the stickers, looking for Dan, or Lucero, with no luck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Are you sure its not Lucille"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Yeah"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;The oldest girl at the table jumps in, asks my name again, cross references a different list, and shouts out "Dan Lucero- yeah, Lucille is his sticker"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thats when I remember that Swinton signed me up. Well played sir. I believe he had been watching a bit of Arrested Development at the time. Is he saying I'm a grumpy alcoholic matriarch?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Charlie also discovered that he was signed up as Chuck Fresh, but that makes sense, because that is his actual name.*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ENwfhBwGHU/V5gFabjZP9I/AAAAAAAADdA/vVveOddxesUn3-WZXkmIPB6Kr9I5CMlpgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ENwfhBwGHU/V5gFabjZP9I/AAAAAAAADdA/vVveOddxesUn3-WZXkmIPB6Kr9I5CMlpgCLcB/s400/IMG_7799.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(*not his actual name)</div><br /><br />The Tribe Gathering is basically a big bike riding weekend party that Yeti has been throwing for 15 years. Reportedly it started impromptu, with 10 people the first year. Last year they had 350. This year was a little down, at 250, presumably due to the remote location of the Uncompahgre Plateau, outside of Montrose CO. &nbsp;Everyone is invited, as long as you ride Yeti. &nbsp;They put it on as an appreciation event. &nbsp;This was the first year of our crew going, although we had a number of customers and friends there that are regulars.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/tribe">http://www.yeticycles.com/tribe</a><br /><br />The drive to Montrose takes about six hours. It is both a beautiful and boring drive, at times. &nbsp;If you have never been on the passes between Durango and Silverton and Ouray, you should check it out, unless you find tight and twisty roads with no guard rails and sheer cliffs scary, in which case you should maybe avoid it. &nbsp;It is a little surprising to have such a seemingly dangerous stretch of road open to the public in America, the lawyers and safety police haven't taken all the fun away yet. &nbsp;But I doubt it will be long before somebody goes sailing off the cliff while texting, and somebody will declare the road unsafe.<br /><br />The Tribe gathering was another 30 minutes or so outside of Montrose up on the Uncompahgre plateau. &nbsp;So by the time Dave, Charlie, my Dad (aka Lee), and I pulled up to the party we were a little road weary and excited. &nbsp;After we were finished making the poor 10 year old volunteers stressed out, we found a nice little spot to camp. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYOMAEzGJDw/V5gJwCuH-UI/AAAAAAAADdM/FXMKZ7JY1X43KV8XgKfoa7-ENXzdgJ0DgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYOMAEzGJDw/V5gJwCuH-UI/AAAAAAAADdM/FXMKZ7JY1X43KV8XgKfoa7-ENXzdgJ0DgCLcB/s400/IMG_7797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The setting was beautiful forest up on the plateau, with the big tent headquarters in a big clearing and dispersed camping all around it. <br /><br />The event was catered, and the food was amazing. The beer was supplied by Oscar Blues, and there was enough on hand to kill every last attendee with alcohol poisoning. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm3winzEDSo/V5gLdcwohSI/AAAAAAAADdk/y-kwmkM0-XMD6enf3ljRSNc3iSLk2wDDgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm3winzEDSo/V5gLdcwohSI/AAAAAAAADdk/y-kwmkM0-XMD6enf3ljRSNc3iSLk2wDDgCLcB/s400/IMG_7816.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Friday was pretty mellow, as there was a big day of riding ahead on Saturday. We didn't have enough time to ride Friday, but lots of people had been out exploring the area that day. <br /><br />So if you happen to own a school bus, you should totally build a deck on the roof, and then get a 3 man water balloon launcher, because it is hilarious.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77HbzsiU-5A/V5gLcii-rAI/AAAAAAAADdg/3gMo1_ujfm0eBhSksn3mAUrwk6k6TLYHgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-77HbzsiU-5A/V5gLcii-rAI/AAAAAAAADdg/3gMo1_ujfm0eBhSksn3mAUrwk6k6TLYHgCLcB/s400/IMG_7831.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can really take some people by surprise when you hit them with a water balloon from 100 yards away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturdays ride was dubbed "The Whole Uncalada", the local equivalent to Moabs Whole Enchilada. &nbsp;It was 27 miles, with a shuttle at both ends, and way way more descending than climbing. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Loading up 3 moving trucks and two school busses with riders was an impressive sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0BixkhCtmW8/V5gN11DCpWI/AAAAAAAADd0/3F7nCB2fWsAEbXO4OIA2SQZeAcGbGmBggCLcB/s1600/IMG_7801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0BixkhCtmW8/V5gN11DCpWI/AAAAAAAADd0/3F7nCB2fWsAEbXO4OIA2SQZeAcGbGmBggCLcB/s400/IMG_7801.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the stretch of bikes laying along the side of the road at the start of the ride was awesome. It was a seriously impressive collection of nice bikes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqWgmrsgTdM/V5gN0p4CvfI/AAAAAAAADds/WIDAAb7kx94qk_kaaJXvHJaT72ZBMPfdQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqWgmrsgTdM/V5gN0p4CvfI/AAAAAAAADds/WIDAAb7kx94qk_kaaJXvHJaT72ZBMPfdQCLcB/s400/IMG_7803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a great ride. We didn't stop for too many photo ops, we were having too much fun pedaling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VQzxFngxbw/V5gOqnmFLII/AAAAAAAADeQ/CM3zsQMbxBgLLXk8wP6Nd7GJ8Oue0qQ_wCLcB/s1600/IMG_7809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VQzxFngxbw/V5gOqnmFLII/AAAAAAAADeQ/CM3zsQMbxBgLLXk8wP6Nd7GJ8Oue0qQ_wCLcB/s400/IMG_7809.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />But feeling thoroughly jazzed on the bus ride home (with a couple quick beers in me), there was plenty of time for photos.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttdh_J2eHT0/V5gN6DCEbBI/AAAAAAAADeA/MdoxkapbXMouBedDAE3N1K9BE5pcS0HAwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttdh_J2eHT0/V5gN6DCEbBI/AAAAAAAADeA/MdoxkapbXMouBedDAE3N1K9BE5pcS0HAwCLcB/s400/IMG_7811.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WqaEJGwav8/V5gPYVP3osI/AAAAAAAADeU/CZjhnOwqUzk7C5vFLC9gLDQJRzS0iaQIwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0WqaEJGwav8/V5gPYVP3osI/AAAAAAAADeU/CZjhnOwqUzk7C5vFLC9gLDQJRzS0iaQIwCLcB/s400/IMG_7813.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We got back and stuffed ourselves on an amazing dinner.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4GY30lGnNo/V5gPYW0alXI/AAAAAAAADec/AHEUOasISDIvQ1OS0fLQQFYjn4j9hf7EQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4GY30lGnNo/V5gPYW0alXI/AAAAAAAADec/AHEUOasISDIvQ1OS0fLQQFYjn4j9hf7EQCLcB/s400/IMG_7821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danny doesn't appear to trust his meal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEBvLh8gC3Q/V5gPYdK8XzI/AAAAAAAADeY/RiQ3qzbDOyI4IR_1wXTLVFU95Ok18AJJgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEBvLh8gC3Q/V5gPYdK8XzI/AAAAAAAADeY/RiQ3qzbDOyI4IR_1wXTLVFU95Ok18AJJgCLcB/s400/IMG_7820.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />And once everyone was thoroughly fed and beered up, Yeti started their traditional stupid human tricks.<br /><br />Mini bike racing...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFSOZNxuYc0/V5gQrbJeVdI/AAAAAAAADe0/86QhiJf-GeIK6ic6RvsssOWlmFqAc3DAQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFSOZNxuYc0/V5gQrbJeVdI/AAAAAAAADe0/86QhiJf-GeIK6ic6RvsssOWlmFqAc3DAQCLcB/s400/IMG_7835.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mini bike tossing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJQBnhRIGpw/V5gRFntGq-I/AAAAAAAADe4/IwdYgXTCJVE2xzGcQTkBWW82qyhr69VjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJQBnhRIGpw/V5gRFntGq-I/AAAAAAAADe4/IwdYgXTCJVE2xzGcQTkBWW82qyhr69VjgCLcB/s400/IMG_7872.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;And foot down....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGC586gMKCI/V5gQqxhMttI/AAAAAAAADew/sXlm-nWlsGEHIeM6NeG0RhXF6IzcWhvGgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGC586gMKCI/V5gQqxhMttI/AAAAAAAADew/sXlm-nWlsGEHIeM6NeG0RhXF6IzcWhvGgCLcB/s400/IMG_7884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />There was some talking on the mike, a little video to watch, and eventually a booze fueled dance party broke out. &nbsp;I may or may not boogie down when the right number of beers have been drank and the music is good.<br /><br />We did another ride on Sunday morning before heading out of town. It was a beautiful ride through the trees on really nice loamy soil, undulating along the plateau, with a few great views thrown in. <br />Then we packed it up and hauled tail back to 'Burque. A quick 12 hours at home and here I was opening shop Monday morning, bleary eyed and smiling. &nbsp;I can definitely think of worse ways to spend 72 hours.<br /><br />We will definitely go again next year. I hope we can bring even more friends with us then. If you're lucky, you'll get to watch me dance (and maybe even get an "I love you man" hug from me).<br /><br />Thanks for reading.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/07/yeti-tribe-2016-uncompahgre-plateau.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-6974965279766873088Mon, 13 Jun 2016 05:13:00 +00002016-06-12T23:13:17.854-06:00awesomenessshop newsEnchanted Forest, Bacon, and MondaysHi Everybody!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YlmECL2ED2I" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />We have a few important pieces of info that need sharing.<br /><br />Firstly, as of right.....NOW!....we will be open for bizness on Mondays. We will do our normal weekday hours of 10 to 6. &nbsp;Our reasoning for this is two fold:<br />Fold 1) It will allow us to make even more money than we already are, I mean, we are getting pretty rich, but my wealth hasn't exceeded my wildest dreams yet, which is precisely what I was promised would happen when opening my own bike shop. &nbsp;And..<br />Fold 2) This will give us more time to crank out the repairs, because i<i>t is riding season, you know, </i>&nbsp;and everybody would like their bike done yesterday, thanks. &nbsp;And we get it, and while I'm fairly sure our turn around is the fastest in town (and our work is the best, but you already knew that), we want to keep it that way all through the summer.<br /><br />So there is that.<br /><br />Secondly, The 24 Hours of Enchanted forest is this weekend, June 18th and 19th. So we will be closed for the weekend, so HA! No bike repairs for you!<br /><br />As per always, the infamous Bikeworks Bacon Station will be serving up gross amounts of cooked pig flesh. &nbsp;It is always a good time, and this year promises to be better than ever. Why you ask? Because normally we just provide all the provisions for the Bacon Station, and the awesome volunteers run it. But this year we will be bringing home the bacon, and cooking the bacon, and heckling the racers about eating the bacon, and drinking the beer from the keg which we may or may not bring, and we will be partying and not racing and its going to be awesome. <br />That along with a new course which sounds amazing, and perfect weather (I haven't checked the forecast, but I'm just going to declare it), this should be the bestest Enchanted Forest ever.<br /><br />So... if you didn't sign up to race but don't want to miss the fun, come on out and camp with us (we will be camping down a random dirt road, in the trees, where the race course passes by, so I'm told). &nbsp;Get a hold of us at the shop, and we will give you directions. &nbsp;And maybe bring an extra pound of bacon, because we normally go through 40 or 50 pounds of it, but normally I'm not there drunkenly eating it the whole time. &nbsp;And I'm bringing my kids, and the little one can seriously put away some bacon.<br /><br />Thats about it. To summarize:<br />1) Bikeworks ABQ, now 100% more open on Mondays<br />2) Bikeworks ABQ, 100% less open this Saturday than normal.<br />3) Bikes, Beer, Bacon (in whichever order you prefer).<br /><br />Smooches!<br /><br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/06/enchanted-forest-bacon-and-mondays.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-2229199444100761718Tue, 17 May 2016 05:08:00 +00002016-05-16T23:08:03.295-06:00Who's going to Santa Fe?So what has everybody got planned for the weekend? Have you heard about the Bike &amp; Brew fest in Santa Fe? Its got like, bikes, and beer, and music, and food, and stuff. &nbsp;Seems like you could definitely find a worse way to kill some time.<br /><a href="http://outsidesantafe.com/">http://outsidesantafe.com/</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAnz2aNazYY/VzqlXqGYpwI/AAAAAAAADZ4/6jDjEITP2BItc0tkt1gSRHk-FXDjunmPACLcB/s1600/IMG_7085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAnz2aNazYY/VzqlXqGYpwI/AAAAAAAADZ4/6jDjEITP2BItc0tkt1gSRHk-FXDjunmPACLcB/s400/IMG_7085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a random picture of my two dogs, nicely stacked, because I like to put a picture near the top of each post.</span></div><br />I checked it out last year, it was a &nbsp;pretty cool scene. Unfortunately last year it was really cold and rainy during the event. Hopefully this year will be nicer weather. Also they moved it from the Railyard area over to Fort Marcy park, which is an awesome park. So I think the vibe will be more festival-y.<br /><br />There are numerous organized rides that you can sign up for, so if there are trails in the area you haven't done before, this might be a good way to learn them.<br /><br />There is also the Poker Ride put on by our bro-hams at BTI. You ride around La Tierra and pick up playing cards, and then you can win prizes and get beer. It costs $20 but it's a fund raiser for trail building, so quit being cheap. <br /><a href="http://outsidesantafe.com/event/poker-ride/">http://outsidesantafe.com/event/poker-ride/</a><br /><br />I will be most likely toiling away at the Bikeworks sweatshop on Saturday, but perhaps the boss will let me off early enough to catch some of the fun. &nbsp;Then on Sunday I will be partaking in the Santa Fe Century, with my beautiful and lovely wife on our school bus yellow tandem.<br /><a href="http://santafecentury.com/">http://santafecentury.com/</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_C1btaxK_Q/Vzqgfw2pZQI/AAAAAAAADZM/nljEbn2vPgY_omdXKTNu8E-z3_7s8oH3ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W_C1btaxK_Q/Vzqgfw2pZQI/AAAAAAAADZM/nljEbn2vPgY_omdXKTNu8E-z3_7s8oH3ACLcB/s400/IMG_6502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(my wife is short, but the children's stoker cranks are for the kid, not her)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We haven't exactly put many miles in on the bike, so we're going to do the 50 mile option, assuring we all make it home alive and in good spirits. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Shortly after we acquired this lovely tandem, I hooked up the trail-a-bike to it, and rode with my 8 year old on the back, and my 5 year old in the middle. It was about all I could do to keep upright when my boy started rocking side to side on the trail-a-bike. &nbsp;That experiment only happened once.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKK73DPclA/Vzqhf2sY9fI/AAAAAAAADZc/z-q0WauGX6QXzmdupMFogNHLlJRGv68rwCLcB/s1600/8E38ACC4-3FDB-4975-B15E-58FEDE5DC50B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtKK73DPclA/Vzqhf2sY9fI/AAAAAAAADZc/z-q0WauGX6QXzmdupMFogNHLlJRGv68rwCLcB/s400/8E38ACC4-3FDB-4975-B15E-58FEDE5DC50B.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, also in Santa Fe on Sunday is the Big Mountain Enduro series race at Glorietta Camps.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/schedule/santa-fe">http://www.bigmountainenduro.com/schedule/santa-fe</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The BME series is pretty big, and you should expect to see some pro level riders hauling ass, which makes for good spectating. &nbsp;I plan on cruising over there to do some watching after the century.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;I raced the Enduro at Glorietta last year (it wasn't part of the BME then) and there was a newly built trail called Chilidog. &nbsp;That trail had some pretty cool technical spots, with A and B lines, that were a short hike up from the start/finish. So I'm thinking this will be a good place to head to with a backpack full of beers on Sunday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bTBjHAZzBI/VzqkrhHkCFI/AAAAAAAADZs/9Jo1g-n14OAy2RlzqB6RZtcXrbU4-HVfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bTBjHAZzBI/VzqkrhHkCFI/AAAAAAAADZs/9Jo1g-n14OAy2RlzqB6RZtcXrbU4-HVfQCLcB/s400/IMG_5868.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlSwz-501PE/VzqkrggJSzI/AAAAAAAADZo/pmK1OhugXn4VMtjV4tl5TwV8Vdx7he8wACLcB/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zlSwz-501PE/VzqkrggJSzI/AAAAAAAADZo/pmK1OhugXn4VMtjV4tl5TwV8Vdx7he8wACLcB/s400/IMG_5869.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I got so rad at the enduro last year!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So thats about the gist of it. &nbsp;If anybody is planning on being up there this weekend, let me know, maybe we can meet up, and high-five, and be all like "hey Bro, we normally high-five in Albuquerque, but now we are in Santa Fe!" And then we will slam our beers and go get another.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And if you pass us during the Century, say Hi! We should be easy enough to spot, the bike is literally (like, literally, you guys) school bus yellow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">'Til next time.</div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/05/whos-going-to-santa-fe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-4155016813173063894Mon, 25 Apr 2016 05:13:00 +00002016-04-24T23:14:32.682-06:00awesomenesstravelOoh! Ooh! Story Time!Hey there internet website readers. &nbsp;Long time no see. I blame myself, really. I mean, you could write me stories, but its cool, I'll do the stories, don't worry.<br /><br />So, stories huh? Want to hear a story about me crashing in a great big painful stupid way, but where I don't get seriously injured so we can all have a laugh and not feel guilty. Yeah you do.<br /><br />It all started way back around lunch time today, when a group of us headed out for a few hours of pedaling in Otero, in a civilized, friendly style. &nbsp;It was one of those rides that turned into an impromptu big group, because everybody happened to be free at 1pm on Sunday. &nbsp;At least all the beautiful people happened to be free.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GY8h-veK7o/Vx2Z0vQmC4I/AAAAAAAAMkg/qt40iuYFaMYoeLgD7zFBAGyI7OL0unKUwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GY8h-veK7o/Vx2Z0vQmC4I/AAAAAAAAMkg/qt40iuYFaMYoeLgD7zFBAGyI7OL0unKUwCLcB/s400/IMG_7395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I only associate myself with the beautiful people.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know if you know this, but mountain biking on a warm spring day with a bunch of your friends is a pretty awesome thing to do. &nbsp;As a result, spirits were high. &nbsp;Also, I was riding a new Yeti, the SB45c to be exact, which was resulting in high spirits as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOJ_25p5GCw/Vx2arPTn3yI/AAAAAAAAMmI/yGzH7OEQiD8IUcHt1hdCo4IYbCQC96HQQCLcB/s1600/2016_Yeti_SB45c_Profile_996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qOJ_25p5GCw/Vx2arPTn3yI/AAAAAAAAMmI/yGzH7OEQiD8IUcHt1hdCo4IYbCQC96HQQCLcB/s400/2016_Yeti_SB45c_Profile_996.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/bikes/sb45c" target="_blank"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/bikes/sb45c" target="_blank">The Yeti SB45c. You totally need one.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a real fine bicycle, and it makes you feel confident going very fast over the big rocks and drops and jumps and stuff. &nbsp;But the problem is, I'm not so good at the jumps part. So descending Otero Canyon I got a little over zealous and took one of the larger rock-pile jumps. You know, the type that spits you straight up into the air, with a completely flat landing, and it takes everything you got not to land completely on your front wheel. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I didn't quite get it done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQJbC2BV5Ag/Vx2bzI2HuuI/AAAAAAAAMm8/FIE8LR4JfsEW_4ksSMSzzFyK5F8TC-2_QCLcB/s1600/9CFC81B4-3870-4504-9C0A-4A410B75A079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQJbC2BV5Ag/Vx2bzI2HuuI/AAAAAAAAMm8/FIE8LR4JfsEW_4ksSMSzzFyK5F8TC-2_QCLcB/s400/9CFC81B4-3870-4504-9C0A-4A410B75A079.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The interesting part is trying to decipher all my bruises. &nbsp;I managed to hit/bruise my right ankle, knee, thigh, hip, shoulder, and palm. &nbsp;But I have that long scrape running down the length of my left forearm, and I can't figure out how, or what I scraped against. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I pretty much rode my front wheel until it hit a granite slab, which I then splatted onto, best as I can recall. &nbsp;Quite the rookie jumping mistake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Disappointingly, I only took the jump because Charlie took it right in front of me, and he made it look easy. &nbsp;Stupid Charlie, he should have crashed for my sake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for my fancy pants new Yeti, it came away relatively unscathed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6JeZPAzqOw/Vx2dnzw5_WI/AAAAAAAAMnU/XirjCFlbVUAylOwkGNyGiCT93uus3Fj2ACLcB/s1600/IMG_7399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6JeZPAzqOw/Vx2dnzw5_WI/AAAAAAAAMnU/XirjCFlbVUAylOwkGNyGiCT93uus3Fj2ACLcB/s400/IMG_7399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only part of the bike that hit the rocks is the driveside seat stay, as shown. &nbsp;But mostly what you see there is a frame protector sticker that has done its job, and is now peeling up. &nbsp;The frame protector is from a small company called Invisiframe out of the UK.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtxc8XecqXQ/Vx2el-te2eI/AAAAAAAAMnk/-cNTKw0KfQ8FlCGt_BD7EEvU-SXBrQooACLcB/s1600/SB4_5C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gtxc8XecqXQ/Vx2el-te2eI/AAAAAAAAMnk/-cNTKw0KfQ8FlCGt_BD7EEvU-SXBrQooACLcB/s400/SB4_5C.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.invisiframe.co.uk/" target="_blank">Go to the Invisiframe website. Do it! Do it now!</a></div><br />These are full frame clear sticker kits, from 3M. They are made specific to the bike model and even size. They come in gloss or matte finish. They are a wet application, and they are quite tricky to put on nicely (at least for me they are). &nbsp;I haven't pulled the damaged piece off yet, and I can tell that the carbon did get a little scratched underneath, but I'm pretty sure that the Invisiframe just paid for itself, and I would have been very sad with a very scratched bike without it.<br /><br />The kits go for about $115 once we get them here to the US, depending on the exchange rate at the moment. &nbsp;I have been doing them installed for around $200, maybe more depending on how dirty the bike is and how many cables/hoses have to be removed first. &nbsp;So, if you like keeping your shiny new expensive toy shiny and new looking, give it a thought, it seems to work.<br /><br />This wasn't my first time riding the new Yeti. &nbsp;I built it last Thursday, and then took off Friday morning for a weekend in Flagstaff and Sedona with (stupid no-crash) Charlie and some Flagstaff friends. &nbsp;It was a silly good time, we got 3 days of riding in, about 20 miles each day of singletrack, and I broke the SB45 in real good.<br /><br />Some things that happened along that trip were....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAkcrudi-gM/Vx2iCPzdwjI/AAAAAAAAMoA/BbFzRuaPmFAB7LzF1u5ys-D4u7--wxaPACLcB/s1600/IMG_7336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAkcrudi-gM/Vx2iCPzdwjI/AAAAAAAAMoA/BbFzRuaPmFAB7LzF1u5ys-D4u7--wxaPACLcB/s320/IMG_7336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Charlie and I achieved Ninja tire-plugging status, with this 1/4" long slice right at the rim successfully repaired using a Panaracer plug kit on the trail. He probably has 75 miles on the tire since we plugged it, and no problems.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;I have mostly been using a more simple kit made by Genuine Innovations, and I have become very fond of those little booger looking strips. If you haven't checked them out yet, you should stop by and grab some, it's $6 very well spent.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACmnz-01Vgw/Vx2iCA0oKCI/AAAAAAAAMoE/M2Eib621wagckvZKm5Jsdl8m7PutaaHkQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ACmnz-01Vgw/Vx2iCA0oKCI/AAAAAAAAMoE/M2Eib621wagckvZKm5Jsdl8m7PutaaHkQCLcB/s320/IMG_7338.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Charlie and I posed for a stereotypical Sedona pic, which I then shared on the internet, which caused quite a stir, since we are so shockingly handsome.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbbEUSSn2ms/Vx2iDjNF9gI/AAAAAAAAMoI/cQrQ8CeVlZUYpF2rwZVwm6uSa-UrRY1kwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbbEUSSn2ms/Vx2iDjNF9gI/AAAAAAAAMoI/cQrQ8CeVlZUYpF2rwZVwm6uSa-UrRY1kwCLcB/s320/IMG_7341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My bike got nice and muddy, as it snowed 3 inches Friday evening in Flagstaff, and we rode there on Sunday. &nbsp;People are often worried that the Switch Infinity link on Yeti's is delicate. But it's not, and I took a bad upside photo of my muddy bike to prove it. &nbsp;Boom, problem solved, end of discussion.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CBQokBnxrA/Vx2iEpn1v0I/AAAAAAAAMoM/Oq-wXacGDrQqE9kxCCQyh948tovSg-hngCLcB/s1600/IMG_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CBQokBnxrA/Vx2iEpn1v0I/AAAAAAAAMoM/Oq-wXacGDrQqE9kxCCQyh948tovSg-hngCLcB/s320/IMG_7342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Charlie was also riding a brand new SB45c, it was totes adorable, we were both riding brand new Yetis of the same model.<br /><br />I talk to a lot of people that have never ridden in Flagstaff, but have been to Sedona numerous times. Flag is a ton of fun to ride in, there is some really challenging stuff, and I highly recommend it. &nbsp;I also like the town quite a bit more than hanging out in Sedona, which is often overwhelmingly touristy. &nbsp;And if you are in Flag and need bike stuff or trail info, you should go to <a href="http://www.flagbikerev.com/" target="_blank">Flag Bike Revolution</a>, because they are rad. &nbsp;So there, one more of my opinions shared with the world even though nobody asked.<br /><br />Well, that's about the end of story time. &nbsp;Thanks for joining in.<br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/04/ooh-ooh-story-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lucero)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-7597275395836671219Tue, 23 Feb 2016 03:42:00 +00002016-02-22T20:43:16.421-07:00awesomenessrace reviewRace Report: 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo; 2016 Edition24 Hours in the Old Pueblo is the kind of fun that takes some time to recover from. &nbsp;Typically you get home wiped out, filthy, and disheveled. &nbsp;And you spend a little time telling yourself that you won't be doing <i>that</i> again. &nbsp;But like anything, the exhaustion fades from memory while the stories of hijinks and glory grow. &nbsp;Six months later you're scheming on next year, and before you know it you're bumping along in the back of a Westy for seven hours, staring at dog ass and drinking banquet beers.<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hX6HGNMU-fs/Vsuy_A7zUBI/AAAAAAAADU4/j1Ub2oelk24/s1600/IMG_7036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hX6HGNMU-fs/Vsuy_A7zUBI/AAAAAAAADU4/j1Ub2oelk24/s400/IMG_7036.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(little Neptune surfed his way to AZ, while I contemplated the upholstery and trucker bombs)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have been attending Old Pueblo intermittently over the past 13 years. &nbsp;My last two efforts were duo races with Danny, stories of which I am sure can be found elsewhere on this here website. &nbsp;This year we were on a 4 person singlespeed team, consisting of myself (Lucero), Danny, Anona, and Ryan Travelsnacks. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Danny, Anona and I drove out together on Friday in their &nbsp;Eurovan camper, while Travelsnacks and our friend Maggie showed up like rockstars at about 10am on Saturday (race starts at noon). &nbsp;Preparations were quickly made and the race was off before we knew it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNoQ5TW29M/Vsu24P4Lc3I/AAAAAAAADVI/OOaEyP2_gHk/s1600/IMG_7038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VyNoQ5TW29M/Vsu24P4Lc3I/AAAAAAAADVI/OOaEyP2_gHk/s400/IMG_7038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;(pre-race hair braiding, Maggie meets her teammates moments before the race starts)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FD1LQwjbcnY/Vsu26nC1HsI/AAAAAAAADVg/D63gZfwTYQI/s1600/IMG_7051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FD1LQwjbcnY/Vsu26nC1HsI/AAAAAAAADVg/D63gZfwTYQI/s400/IMG_7051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the sprawling "24 Hour Town" is always a little shocking)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the "things" about Old Pueblo is the LeMans style start. With such a massive field, the very long LeMans start provides a way to thin the crowd out a bit. Serious racers run hard, soloists and partiers take their time. &nbsp;I even saw a table stationed along the run full of half filled cups for beer handups.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRHBuoSVySA/Vsu24Gy3nYI/AAAAAAAADV8/xqlnvoZ6FQw/s1600/IMG_7040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iRHBuoSVySA/Vsu24Gy3nYI/AAAAAAAADV8/xqlnvoZ6FQw/s400/IMG_7040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(here is Ryan, flying the colors, lined up near the front waiting to run)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the other "things" about Old Pueblo is the sheer size. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmR8InLxMynrlZwklB9RkjIwzkQqoF4lpS7BMP3CjDhLJ-gF_l3m6WvpesVNgsym1yHpIXFdH2yVo71UP9nA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After I handed Ryan's bike off, I stood and filmed the start for a bit. &nbsp;It just goes on like that for several minutes, while the horde files in and grabs their rides.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our race got off to a good start, with our whole team putting in big efforts. I managed to get a flat, and managed to bungle the fix with a too-short valve on my spare and a broken co2 inflator. &nbsp;As I realized I needed bailing out, a guy wearing a&nbsp;<a href="http://twowheeljones.com/" target="_blank">2 Wheel Jones</a>&nbsp;jersey rolled up and offered help. &nbsp;He gave me a tube and a co2 and chilled out while I got sorted. When I offered to give him something for payback, he laughed and said "nah man, It's cool. My brother owns this shop (points at jersey), I'm pretty styled out." &nbsp;To this I could only reply, in my embarrassment, "awesome, thanks!" &nbsp;I didn't feel like explaining that I also own a bike shop, but couldn't manage to fix my own flat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72ymqqJ3wro/VsvTvrKATkI/AAAAAAAADWc/gZc7TZHO4WY/s1600/IMG_7056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72ymqqJ3wro/VsvTvrKATkI/AAAAAAAADWc/gZc7TZHO4WY/s400/IMG_7056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(out of context sunset pic)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The size of the "camping" rigs out at the race is always a little shocking. &nbsp;It seems that an unofficial competition is played amongst many to set up the most elaborate base camp. &nbsp;Massive RV's and 5th wheels, multiple EZ Ups, giant backyard grills and gourmet meals, movie screen projectors, couches, you will see it all out there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Generally the crazy setups just add to the spectacle of the race, and help make everything quite exciting. &nbsp;But the constant running of generators gets pretty old, and the race day morning traffic within 24 Hour Town was completely ridiculous. &nbsp;At one point it actually felt a little dangerous trying to weave my way down to the exchange tent through the incoming trucks . &nbsp;I'm assuming most of the traffic was friends and family showing up to watch the race start, and it seems that most of them could have parked down the street and walked to their camps. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, if by some chance the powers that be at Epic Rides are reading this (the aren't) my one suggestion to improve an otherwise perfectly ran race is to make a parking lot, possibly with a shuttle service, to handle the Saturday morning visitor traffic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our team's camp was pretty minimal, hiding under the Eurovan awning for shade, with a couple of tents and a cooler. &nbsp;Maggie went even more minimalist and blew off setting up her tent..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nIbUPM2-_A/Vsu28GF8s9I/AAAAAAAADV8/-l-y9G7_k5M/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nIbUPM2-_A/Vsu28GF8s9I/AAAAAAAADV8/-l-y9G7_k5M/s400/IMG_7057.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I returned from my 5am lap, and saw the mat on the ground with tipped over cans of pringles and beer, I couldn't help but laugh at the contrast to the luxo RV's all snug with their sleeping inhabitants. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which brings me back to our race. &nbsp;So I headed out for a 5am lap, after trying to back out of it. &nbsp;I was suffering from allergies a couple days before the race, and I came down with a head cold during Saturday. &nbsp;When I woke up at 4:30am Sunday morning to go out for my 4th lap, just drinking water made my throat hurt. &nbsp;I didn't think I could do another lap, as I was going into coughing fits and breathing was difficult. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ryan was up, and told me not to worry, skip my lap, we were just there to have fun. But I had been watching Ryan watch the results, and we had been bouncing between 3rd and 4th all night. &nbsp;Danny was out on course, and Anona was sleeping. &nbsp;After fantasizing about not riding, I realized that nobody was ready to take my lap and I would be tanking our race if I didn't go out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I suited up and headed out, promising to my team that I was going to go nice and slow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got through my lap, but it was about 30 minutes slower than Danny and Ryan's laps (1:05 vs 1:35, approximately).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9F7xvQImroM/Vsu26PWJJTI/AAAAAAAADV8/qHb4Omy14Lk/s1600/IMG_7050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9F7xvQImroM/Vsu26PWJJTI/AAAAAAAADV8/qHb4Omy14Lk/s400/IMG_7050.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(sparkly gold temporary tattoo war paint)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was allowed to skip my last lap. Which was fine, because by that time Danny and Ryan had finally gotten warmed up and really started flying. &nbsp;They went back to back for our last 4 team laps, securing our 3rd place position by about 40 minutes and finishing just 30 minutes off 2nd place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSEUd0IDqnQ/Vsu29P6X9wI/AAAAAAAADV8/_9pwsBpb_lA/s1600/IMG_7060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSEUd0IDqnQ/Vsu29P6X9wI/AAAAAAAADV8/_9pwsBpb_lA/s400/IMG_7060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(here is my view from the podium)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYsAP6S3Czc/VsvOacx5KVI/AAAAAAAADWI/mKq7qSV1VUc/s1600/IMG_7091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYsAP6S3Czc/VsvOacx5KVI/AAAAAAAADWI/mKq7qSV1VUc/s400/IMG_7091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the 4 Person Single Speed category isn't "co-ed", and Anona was the only Woman on the podium)<span style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Getting on the podium was pretty exciting at such a big race. &nbsp;As I mentioned, I first did this race in 2003. &nbsp;And that was the last time I had been on the podium as well, in the 4 Man Open category. It was pretty exciting, and the prize table was ample, I scored a sweet Maxxis hoody and an Ardent Race tire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z4ReEyCbfo0/VsvTgLMDLjI/AAAAAAAADWY/IZC62qBK2Zk/s1600/IMG_7066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z4ReEyCbfo0/VsvTgLMDLjI/AAAAAAAADWY/IZC62qBK2Zk/s400/IMG_7066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After podium pics and high 5's, I jumped in with Ryan and Maggie and we boogied back to ABQ, getting in around 11pm. &nbsp;It was a long drive. &nbsp;It was one of those drives that had you questioning what you choose to do for fun. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Old Pueblo is pretty much a guaranteed good time, if the weather cooperates. &nbsp;The organizers are on point, the goody bag is amply stocked, yummy food vendors, beer flowing everywhere, and of course a screamingly fast and fun 17 miles of singletrack. &nbsp;And this year, the weather was perfect. &nbsp;It was a fantastic episode of Old Pueblo, and I'm recharged and ready to do it again. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/02/race-report-24-hours-in-old-pueblo-2016.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-1867927833250976415Fri, 08 Jan 2016 00:57:00 +00002016-01-07T17:58:01.548-07:00Bargains!! Closeout bikes, used couple used bikes, and a little construction project.Hi there! Did everybody have a lovely holiday season? Are you a little fatter than normal, and your liver hurts? Yeah, us too.<br />Well, enough chit chat, lets talk about bikes.<br />Since it's the off season, we finally got around to putting price tags on all our bikes. And in the process, we have marked down every bike in the store that isn't a 2016 model. That means that most of the bikes in the shop are at least 15% off right now. We are also selling off a few of our demo bikes.<br />I wrote some lovely sales tags using my fine penmanship skills, which I will present to you now, so you can get an idea of what we have around....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsZtaKK_A7w/Vo8Cz31fiZI/AAAAAAAADPA/CvcHwl29cqA/s1600/IMG_6898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsZtaKK_A7w/Vo8Cz31fiZI/AAAAAAAADPA/CvcHwl29cqA/s200/IMG_6898.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4zeGJX_QN4/Vo8Cr2CQ-aI/AAAAAAAADOk/blQxJANWPN4/s1600/IMG_6899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4zeGJX_QN4/Vo8Cr2CQ-aI/AAAAAAAADOk/blQxJANWPN4/s200/IMG_6899.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4W9jtlNzwU/Vo8Cw6wbSfI/AAAAAAAADO0/mEuzlPomS5U/s1600/IMG_6900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f4W9jtlNzwU/Vo8Cw6wbSfI/AAAAAAAADO0/mEuzlPomS5U/s200/IMG_6900.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgrscQqwRCk/Vo8Cub-NquI/AAAAAAAADOs/CBG4_hpiEKo/s1600/IMG_6901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vgrscQqwRCk/Vo8Cub-NquI/AAAAAAAADOs/CBG4_hpiEKo/s200/IMG_6901.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYLOPdiUi94/Vo8Cy0X9R1I/AAAAAAAADO8/CtBy7NOyJeg/s1600/IMG_6902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYLOPdiUi94/Vo8Cy0X9R1I/AAAAAAAADO8/CtBy7NOyJeg/s200/IMG_6902.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86389xzzV5o/Vo8C0D1futI/AAAAAAAADPE/vh9l9mC8nLE/s1600/IMG_6903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86389xzzV5o/Vo8C0D1futI/AAAAAAAADPE/vh9l9mC8nLE/s200/IMG_6903.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fus8XElE194/Vo8C3HTrf3I/AAAAAAAADPU/k1QA7hus1Pc/s1600/IMG_6904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fus8XElE194/Vo8C3HTrf3I/AAAAAAAADPU/k1QA7hus1Pc/s200/IMG_6904.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR2LFxrqdxc/Vo8C3lyXdaI/AAAAAAAADPc/eosze2_c-NY/s1600/IMG_6905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kR2LFxrqdxc/Vo8C3lyXdaI/AAAAAAAADPc/eosze2_c-NY/s200/IMG_6905.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Dfwsc8yTiY/Vo8C3vMLYHI/AAAAAAAADPY/1tPY9Y1Dfxc/s1600/IMG_6906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Dfwsc8yTiY/Vo8C3vMLYHI/AAAAAAAADPY/1tPY9Y1Dfxc/s200/IMG_6906.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lu0TtyzP0EM/Vo8C6odFLeI/AAAAAAAADPs/XjYYVdvOFDU/s1600/IMG_6907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lu0TtyzP0EM/Vo8C6odFLeI/AAAAAAAADPs/XjYYVdvOFDU/s200/IMG_6907.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgVKqA7Mxvk/Vo8C6pvGPJI/AAAAAAAADPw/bZ9cpSe2-1g/s1600/IMG_6908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgVKqA7Mxvk/Vo8C6pvGPJI/AAAAAAAADPw/bZ9cpSe2-1g/s200/IMG_6908.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqfUNtWYs28/Vo8C7xNlTHI/AAAAAAAADP8/5fPGb3Up39k/s1600/IMG_6909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GqfUNtWYs28/Vo8C7xNlTHI/AAAAAAAADP8/5fPGb3Up39k/s200/IMG_6909.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGYh6e95-Bk/Vo8C84kzKaI/AAAAAAAADQE/-IRE7MCstgg/s1600/IMG_6911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rGYh6e95-Bk/Vo8C84kzKaI/AAAAAAAADQE/-IRE7MCstgg/s200/IMG_6911.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><br />See! Bargains!!!! And that's just some of them. &nbsp;Speaking of bargains, we have a funny story behind us yelling "BARGAINS" in the shop all the time. Come by and I'll tell it to you.<br /><br />Nextly, we've got a couple nice used bikes to move along. Such as a nearly new Surly Karate Monkey singlespeed, a Trek Madone 5.9 with Ultegra Di2, and a Volagi Viaje XL. &nbsp;We will talk about the Volagi, since that's the one I have pictures of at the moment.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfodRkHOAFE/Vo8EqsZwQ7I/AAAAAAAADQY/2oGMePM2fgQ/s1600/IMG_6895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dfodRkHOAFE/Vo8EqsZwQ7I/AAAAAAAADQY/2oGMePM2fgQ/s320/IMG_6895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FQdqnsl8NY/Vo8Eu2mBApI/AAAAAAAADQg/23bwU-d6usA/s1600/IMG_6896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2FQdqnsl8NY/Vo8Eu2mBApI/AAAAAAAADQg/23bwU-d6usA/s320/IMG_6896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1h3-shJls/Vo8EnkfWCGI/AAAAAAAADQQ/TEA5yzp0IZM/s1600/IMG_6897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kz1h3-shJls/Vo8EnkfWCGI/AAAAAAAADQQ/TEA5yzp0IZM/s320/IMG_6897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Remember Volagi? They were the ones that <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/01/news/an-expensive-dollar-volagi-owes-specialized-1_203443" target="_blank">the big red S sued when they first came out</a>. &nbsp;Anyway, we took this Viaje XL in on trade recently. It hasn't been ridden much, has a few upgraded parts, and we've dialed it in so it's ready to roll. Originally it probably sold for close to $3,000. We're asking $1750. <br /><br />Check it out and other screaming deals on our "Sales" page.<br /><a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/p/sales.html">http://www.bikeworksabq.com/p/sales.html</a><br />Whats that? You didn't know about the sales page? Well there it is. Boom!<br /><br />Lastly, we're up to a little winter remodeling project. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2w1cnfrXFc/Vo8Gv-pfsBI/AAAAAAAADQs/37XkuaAnaNQ/s1600/IMG_6893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W2w1cnfrXFc/Vo8Gv-pfsBI/AAAAAAAADQs/37XkuaAnaNQ/s320/IMG_6893.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Yup, we're finally putting a phone booth in our shop. <br />Actually, we're taking the useless dead corner of the shop and trying to make it useful. &nbsp;There will be some storage space inside for clothing, and some much needed slatwall space for retailing our fine wares. <br /><br />And that's about all for now. &nbsp;We have a few more bikes going up on the "<a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/p/sales.html" target="_blank">Sales!</a>" page soon remember the <a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/p/sales.html" target="_blank">Sales</a>! page? You know, the one I was just talking about? Seriously, pay more attention.<br /><br />Moochas Smoochas!<br />Buneo Bye!<br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2016/01/bargains-closeout-bikes-used-couple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-5433419137742472447Thu, 19 Nov 2015 23:41:00 +00002015-11-19T16:41:57.232-07:00SangawhichWe came across the following video last week thanks to All Hail the Black Market, and we can't stop watching it....<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6C3oepPeeoM" width="560"></iframe> <br /><br />It's a truly amazing video, perhaps only rivaled by this one...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rmgzEoIBTnY" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />Have you seen this new BMX video? Because its kinda cool and stuff....<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UggSw4nGfw0" width="560"></iframe> <br />Wanna know what makes Vince laugh? It's this...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zvEWFjWfqiU" width="560"></iframe> <br />And thats all I got.<br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/11/sangawhich.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-8261206917840470517Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:54:00 +00002015-11-06T06:54:38.883-07:0012 Hours of ABQ picsWe never got around to posting any pics from the 12 Hours of Albuquerque last month.&nbsp;<div>It was the first year of the race and it sold out. The course was great and the weather was perfect. Bikeworks sponsored a donut aid station and we were located roughly at the mid point of the course. We had tools, a bike stand, first aid, water, beer, and tons of donuts on hand.&nbsp;</div><div>Hanging out there on course turned out to be really fun. More fun than I expected.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O7NFnJH5t_Y/Vjyw9P9I0kI/AAAAAAAADK0/ENzXHHh_x4k/s640/blogger-image--638047776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O7NFnJH5t_Y/Vjyw9P9I0kI/AAAAAAAADK0/ENzXHHh_x4k/s640/blogger-image--638047776.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iC-2kgG3XJE/VjyxFvZpipI/AAAAAAAADLk/WKtXGWVvYRU/s640/blogger-image--30381232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iC-2kgG3XJE/VjyxFvZpipI/AAAAAAAADLk/WKtXGWVvYRU/s640/blogger-image--30381232.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yrUOjj6vLdw/Vjyw-jnNS0I/AAAAAAAADK8/zCCuG97gQAg/s640/blogger-image--269333507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yrUOjj6vLdw/Vjyw-jnNS0I/AAAAAAAADK8/zCCuG97gQAg/s640/blogger-image--269333507.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lr7MlQtdUb8/VjyxECpAL_I/AAAAAAAADLc/9XtL3jVj27M/s640/blogger-image-1927061871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lr7MlQtdUb8/VjyxECpAL_I/AAAAAAAADLc/9XtL3jVj27M/s640/blogger-image-1927061871.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qXWGJeTN7Fw/VjyxHeibzII/AAAAAAAADLs/nSWNOalqcUk/s640/blogger-image-850049508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qXWGJeTN7Fw/VjyxHeibzII/AAAAAAAADLs/nSWNOalqcUk/s640/blogger-image-850049508.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UZuht3dtpQw/VjyxCp1HeuI/AAAAAAAADLU/ZMwrrIhmL3M/s640/blogger-image-1469356683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UZuht3dtpQw/VjyxCp1HeuI/AAAAAAAADLU/ZMwrrIhmL3M/s640/blogger-image-1469356683.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k38_VA-rjwU/VjyxBEYTBhI/AAAAAAAADLM/OL92mdNWKPc/s640/blogger-image-1315796368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k38_VA-rjwU/VjyxBEYTBhI/AAAAAAAADLM/OL92mdNWKPc/s640/blogger-image-1315796368.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our spot was a good ways in from the road, so we hauled everything in with the Big Dummy. It was entertaining.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lel1IMzoHgk/Vjyw_67vcbI/AAAAAAAADLE/Oa-S1LMPOog/s640/blogger-image--1673173636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lel1IMzoHgk/Vjyw_67vcbI/AAAAAAAADLE/Oa-S1LMPOog/s640/blogger-image--1673173636.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Thanks for the great day Zia Rides! We will see you there next year.&nbsp;</div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/11/12-hours-of-abq-pics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-115832892564790480Thu, 05 Nov 2015 05:13:00 +00002015-11-04T22:13:40.222-07:00Is winter here?<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It rained most all day today. I'm wondering if the East mountains are going to be muddy for the season.&nbsp;</span></div><div>Managed to get out for a good Cedro loop on Monday, and it had just dried up from the last rainstorm.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MSjzlF-g0gc/VjrlfVq8wyI/AAAAAAAADKU/vWG0qOdH7Y4/s640/blogger-image-1104882844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MSjzlF-g0gc/VjrlfVq8wyI/AAAAAAAADKU/vWG0qOdH7Y4/s640/blogger-image-1104882844.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a beautiful day. We found our way onto some of the less commonly ridden trails.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YfryBa9yBZU/VjrlgmJ645I/AAAAAAAADKc/OVsBeJlUe1Y/s640/blogger-image--535221303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YfryBa9yBZU/VjrlgmJ645I/AAAAAAAADKc/OVsBeJlUe1Y/s640/blogger-image--535221303.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Guess it's time to dust off the singlespeed and head for the foothills.&nbsp;</div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/11/is-winter-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-1926232965488309161Fri, 31 Jul 2015 14:12:00 +00002015-07-31T08:14:29.274-06:00Not-Race Review: 48 Hours of Playing in FlagstaffMany (most?) mountain bikers in New Mexico have taken a riding trip to Sedona at some point. &nbsp;It is legendary, and totally rad. On my journeys to Sedona I have just cruised right past Flagstaff, never stopping but always curious what the area had in store for mountain biking fun. <br />This past weekend I headed out to Flagstaff with a couple of friends, Paul (aka Taco Truck) and <a href="http://www.lindarets.com/" target="_blank">Marc&nbsp;(Lindarets)</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;to be shown everything Flag had to offer by our friend Alex (Alex), who moved there from Albuquerque a couple of years ago.<br /><br />We headed out of town on Friday after work, finally getting on the road around 5 or so. Flag is a pretty easy drive, only about 4 1/2 hours. &nbsp;We got to Alex's house sometime after 10pm, and proceeded to stay up drinking beer unnecessarily late into the night. We were all far too excited for the days ahead to go to bed. <br /><br />After going to bed too late, we proceeded to wake up too early. &nbsp;A combination of the hour gained, the skylights in Alex's living room, and a loud coffee maker had Paul, Marc and I up and milling around by 5:30 am. &nbsp;It has been a long time since I've seen 5:30 am, but the anticipation of a big day of riding new trails had me awake and feeling energetic even before my requisite 3 cups of coffee. &nbsp;It sure is easy to get out of bed when you have nothing but riding bikes to look forward to for the next couple days.<br /><br />Adding to my excitement was the fact that I had brought our Yeti SB5-C demo bike to ride for the weekend. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ubvD3-o9FU/Vbmuo0kNwqI/AAAAAAAADCE/ZCKGCp5yW9U/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4ubvD3-o9FU/Vbmuo0kNwqI/AAAAAAAADCE/ZCKGCp5yW9U/s320/IMG_0331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I hadn't ridden this bike since the Glorieta Enduro race a few months ago, so I was very excited to get some quality long days in and really get a feel for it. &nbsp;After 60 something miles and 8,000 something feet of elevation over two days on singletrack, I can now say without question that I love this bike. &nbsp;It does absolutely everything I want a trail bike to do. My single complaint before the weekend was the lack of an accessible water bottle mount, but now I am willing to forgive that flaw. &nbsp;I am also unwilling to return this bike to our demo fleet. &nbsp;Currently, if you want to demo our SB5, it's gonna take some sweet talking to get it out of my hands.<br /><br />But back to our early morning.... &nbsp;Our ride plan was a 9am meetup with a couple of Alex's local buddies (Garrett and Mike) and his lovely girlfriend Erin. &nbsp;Having woken up at 5:30, we had time to watch the Tour de France race up Alpe d'Huez while Alex made us breakfast burritos before the ride. &nbsp;I was in my happy place for sure.<br /><br />One of my favorite things about riding in Flag was that the trails were a quick ride from town. &nbsp;We pedaled for about 5 minutes through neighborhoods before we were onto little singletrack connectors through other neighborhoods, and then a couple of quick miles later we were in the forest. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ursXt9d5Oto/VbmxZLRNP-I/AAAAAAAADCQ/hwzHPNT5u14/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ursXt9d5Oto/VbmxZLRNP-I/AAAAAAAADCQ/hwzHPNT5u14/s320/IMG_0318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(just a couple quick miles on pavement and we were in the dirt)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We didn't touch a car between our arrival to and departure from Flagstaff, which was very gratifying.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our course on day 1 had us climbing a steep road a couple of times...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0bpmyDtucw/VbmzDxr3TMI/AAAAAAAADCg/PlHymhsmZqo/s1600/IMG_0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0bpmyDtucw/VbmzDxr3TMI/AAAAAAAADCg/PlHymhsmZqo/s320/IMG_0321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">and bombing down a selection of trails around it. &nbsp;We enjoyed what seemed to be the local downhill shuttle trails, including one called Wasabi that particularly stuck out in my mind for its challenging (for me) log drops and beautifully sculpted berms. &nbsp;Clearly some locals have worked hard on that trail, and it is a blast. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The top of the dirt road had some nice views...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KT9uk-Wr2H4/VbmzDm1AxkI/AAAAAAAADCo/Yqe0euSZhv4/s1600/IMG_0323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KT9uk-Wr2H4/VbmzDm1AxkI/AAAAAAAADCo/Yqe0euSZhv4/s320/IMG_0323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I always enjoy a scenic meadow...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eLV8vsXaziE/VbmzDu8W1-I/AAAAAAAADCw/Jt0Vdcvkvdw/s1600/IMG_0328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eLV8vsXaziE/VbmzDu8W1-I/AAAAAAAADCw/Jt0Vdcvkvdw/s320/IMG_0328.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbiskwHwBqc/VbmzE7s90JI/AAAAAAAADDA/m6M28mBu80U/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XbiskwHwBqc/VbmzE7s90JI/AAAAAAAADDA/m6M28mBu80U/s320/IMG_0329.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Marc managed to take some pics that make me look like I know what I'm doing...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHoz8og0rBA/Vbm1JW3ZXfI/AAAAAAAADDg/ZmRkEGmSSRQ/s1600/Dan%2BCornering%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DHoz8og0rBA/Vbm1JW3ZXfI/AAAAAAAADDg/ZmRkEGmSSRQ/s320/Dan%2BCornering%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's important to note that my helmet matched my shoes matched my wheels (for which I was teased repeatedly)...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJlkLeqcTKk/Vbm1JVvAAbI/AAAAAAAADDo/dLdVT0J_8A4/s1600/Dan%2BCornering%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJlkLeqcTKk/Vbm1JVvAAbI/AAAAAAAADDo/dLdVT0J_8A4/s320/Dan%2BCornering%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rycHlA1w4wM/Vbm1KNCiEFI/AAAAAAAADD8/sJbQdf54GS0/s1600/Dan%2BDropping%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rycHlA1w4wM/Vbm1KNCiEFI/AAAAAAAADD8/sJbQdf54GS0/s320/Dan%2BDropping%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By the end of the last big climb on Saturday, everybody was looking a little beat...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58uU5pUv0Ps/VbmzFMpgDfI/AAAAAAAADDM/m9rbsZs4-L0/s1600/IMG_0335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58uU5pUv0Ps/VbmzFMpgDfI/AAAAAAAADDM/m9rbsZs4-L0/s320/IMG_0335.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(happy tired Paul)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuveoQn_COU/Vbm2-MmCbbI/AAAAAAAADEM/hzH3G9LB2mo/s1600/IMG_0334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuveoQn_COU/Vbm2-MmCbbI/AAAAAAAADEM/hzH3G9LB2mo/s320/IMG_0334.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(happy tired Marc, Alex and Erin)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is Garrett, he was riding 26" wheels, a triple crankset, and he didn't have a dropper post. &nbsp;I tried to explain to him that his bike was obsolete and un-rideable, but he couldn't hear me because I was so far behind him the whole day. &nbsp;Hopefully he learns soon...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AjlqwIq7ojw/Vbm2o3oqFSI/AAAAAAAADEE/XyTc91Lp3MA/s1600/IMG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AjlqwIq7ojw/Vbm2o3oqFSI/AAAAAAAADEE/XyTc91Lp3MA/s320/IMG_0336.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>We finished our first day by riding straight to a local brewery and proceeded to be the smelliest, dirtiest, happiest people on the patio while we stuffed our faces with burgers and sandwiches.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-CgFknOTfk/VbmzF6CWLrI/AAAAAAAADDQ/d2NMIMiz4yE/s1600/IMG_0337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-CgFknOTfk/VbmzF6CWLrI/AAAAAAAADDQ/d2NMIMiz4yE/s320/IMG_0337.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't remember the stats from day 1, but it was something like 30 miles and 5,000 ft of climbing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Day two was planned to be less technical and more pedally, with our route taking us out from downtown quickly onto singletrack, and eventually to the base of the ski area. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>We started the day by going downtown to a bagel shop, grabbing some bagel sandwiches to stuff into our packs for lunch, and something to bring Erin who was working that day at <a href="http://www.flagbikerev.com/" target="_blank">Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution</a>&nbsp;(FBR), which is a very cool shop I had been hearing about and wanting to check out for a while. Over several years a few of my sales reps have told me that FBR and Bikeworks had similar vibes going, so I was curious. &nbsp;However, their shop is in a cool old building stuck between a brewery and a local pizza place, and they have a proper coffee bar in the shop, so I'm kind of super jealous.</div><div><br /></div><div>While at the shop, we ran into our friend James, who used to live in Albuquerque but moved to Flag and now as working at Flag Bike Rev. He had heard I was in town, so he intentionally wore his very last wearable Bikeworks sock that day....</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWKzd5ZMvMA/Vbt8ea2XdqI/AAAAAAAADFQ/BfIs05T0lsU/s1600/IMG_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tWKzd5ZMvMA/Vbt8ea2XdqI/AAAAAAAADFQ/BfIs05T0lsU/s320/IMG_0338.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I was very flattered, and James should keep his eyes peeled at work for a care package from Albuquerque. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We pedaled off from FBR and quickly jumped onto some singletrack, then some dirt paths through town, then into the Forest Service land, and at some point we hopped onto the Arizona trail, and followed it up the 6 mile climb to the parking lot at Snowbowl Ski area. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6o-0IWZmyU/Vbt8eX-7HBI/AAAAAAAADFY/r3mB06oRUh0/s1600/IMG_0340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6o-0IWZmyU/Vbt8eX-7HBI/AAAAAAAADFY/r3mB06oRUh0/s320/IMG_0340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Dirt path out of town and to the mountain. It sure is nice to be able to get onto dirt so quickly.)</div><div><br /></div><div>The climbing was real nice, just steep and technical enough to make you work for it, but easy enough to let you stay on the bike with a steady pace. &nbsp;Once at the top we took a break with some breakfast bagel sandwiches and freeze dried ice cream that Alex had stuffed into my bag. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjR4jVEzp1w/Vbt8eQ1tcSI/AAAAAAAADFA/PnGjeMTe9MA/s1600/IMG_0341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UjR4jVEzp1w/Vbt8eQ1tcSI/AAAAAAAADFA/PnGjeMTe9MA/s320/IMG_0341.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(In case you are wondering, freeze dried ice cream is weird and delicious and deserves a spot in you riding pack)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5w0QHdkVKjg/Vbt8fUOzcSI/AAAAAAAADFc/Kf87xAU1WaA/s1600/IMG_0342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5w0QHdkVKjg/Vbt8fUOzcSI/AAAAAAAADFc/Kf87xAU1WaA/s320/IMG_0342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Bagels and Ice cream and happy tired boys.)</div><div><br /></div><div>On the way up we saw a few people who were shuttling laps going down the trail. &nbsp;I hadn't been paying much attention while climbing, but the trail didn't seem shuttle-worthy at the time since the climb wasn't that hard. &nbsp;But as soon as we started chasing each other down the mountain, I understood. &nbsp;It was an incredibly fun and fast 6 mile descent. &nbsp;Nothing was super steep, but it was generally steep enough to go faster than you should be going. There were enough rocky techy spots to keep you on your toes, but enough smooth open sections to let you relax, haul ass, and rip a few turn. &nbsp;Marc and I chased Alex all the way down, working hard to stay on his tail. It was all goofy grins and high 5's at the bottom (except we didn't actually high 5, that's not really our style).</div><div><br /></div><div>From there we just basically backtracked until we found ourselves at Alex's house once again. &nbsp;We had some root beer floats, got cleaned up, and walked back over the FBR to say hi and grab some beer and pizza for dinner. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>And that's about it. &nbsp;We eventually wandered back to Alex's place for the night, stayed up too late drinking more beer and whisky and watching the Tour de France, and got up pretty early Monday morning to grab some breakfast and hustle back to ABQ. &nbsp; Flagstaff is a rad place to go ride, especially if you know awesome people there that want to show you around and give you a place to stay (thanks Alex and Erin!). &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/07/not-race-review-48-hours-of-playing-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-3781101043936230913Mon, 13 Jul 2015 18:41:00 +00002015-07-13T12:41:32.199-06:00Yeti Demo 7/13Hey Everybody,<div>If you are looking for info on today's Yeti Demo, we will be at Chamisoso trailhead in Tijeras from 4 to 8pm this evening. Yeti is bringing SB5C's, SB6C's, and ASR's.&nbsp;</div><div>Bikeworks is bringing some grillin's and some beverages.&nbsp;</div><div>Hope to see you there!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AkBvAwQ41x8/VaQGWlgQidI/AAAAAAAADBQ/hkf3Xr2thzg/s640/blogger-image-2054667055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AkBvAwQ41x8/VaQGWlgQidI/AAAAAAAADBQ/hkf3Xr2thzg/s640/blogger-image-2054667055.jpg"></a></div><br></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/07/yeti-demo-713.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-4403255418012613902Fri, 10 Jul 2015 05:27:00 +00002015-07-09T23:27:32.663-06:00Race Review: 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest, 2015 EditionSeriously, you guys, I like rode so hard at the 24 Hour race that just now, like 3 weeks later, am I like recovered enough to finally write about it. For reals.<br />Actually, no, that's a lie. &nbsp;I has been like 3 or 4 weeks since the race happened, but not writing about it for so long has more to do with working long days, and choosing sleep, and a little bit of riding bikes, which are almost all good things.<br /><br />So, onto the race. &nbsp;As usual, it had a lot to do with bacon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfMuXpWlIms/VZ8u_Pq0PfI/AAAAAAAAC9o/lZ_CyQX-rxc/s1600/IMG_5903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfMuXpWlIms/VZ8u_Pq0PfI/AAAAAAAAC9o/lZ_CyQX-rxc/s320/IMG_5903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1020456852"></span>I felt weird buying 48lbs of bacon, Costco employees however, didn't bat an eye.</div><br />For several years running, we have sponsored the ever popular Bacon-Station. Situated mid course, and just before the most fun few miles of descending in the race, the Bacon-Station seems to have become an important part of the Enchated Forest experience. <br /><br />We kept a couple pounds of bacon for our base camp, and Vince made some killer bacon pancakes to get us fueled pre-race.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaYKAXdmBlI/VZ9Lr3jhKrI/AAAAAAAADAE/A3e_23mPLPc/s1600/IMG_5906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xaYKAXdmBlI/VZ9Lr3jhKrI/AAAAAAAADAE/A3e_23mPLPc/s320/IMG_5906.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take the bacon and you put it in a pancake. Bacon pancaaaaaaaaaakes!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSy3bv4D-NE/VZ9Lr3UPmjI/AAAAAAAADAI/-jW6S8eyxrE/s1600/IMG_5910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LSy3bv4D-NE/VZ9Lr3UPmjI/AAAAAAAADAI/-jW6S8eyxrE/s320/IMG_5910.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who makes the bacon pancakes? This guy.</div><br />How much bacon do you bring to feed people on course at a 24 Hour race? &nbsp;About 50 pounds seems to work well. &nbsp;At the 'ol Costco the bacon is sold in 4 pound packages (if 1 pound of bacon is good, 4 must be great!), so I picked up a dozen packages. &nbsp;Ringing up with my 48 pounds of bacon, a 48 pack of Kirkland brand light beer (I just had to try it. &nbsp;It's not the worst cheap beer I've ever had, but I doubt I'll be buying it again) and a few other grocery items, I felt like I had a weird selection of stuff. &nbsp;But the cashiers didn't think anything of it, and then I started wondering about what it would take to actually get their attention with your purchases.<br /><br />The past couple years we used (and killed) microwaves for cooking the bacon. &nbsp;Open flames weren't allowed due to fire concerns, so the microwave was the solution. However, it turns out that cooking about 50 pounds of bacon over the course of 24 hours will kill a microwave. So this year we had the genius solution of using George Forman grills. &nbsp;It worked out pretty good. &nbsp;As a bonus, Savers thrift store had no less than 10 used George Forman grills to choose from. &nbsp;I picked up 3 just to be safe. <br />I felt absurd buying 3 George Forman Grills at the thrift shop that morning, and the silliness of it had me grinning like an idiot trying not to laugh at myself, for the second time in one day at the checkout line. &nbsp;As a result, I'm sure I just looked that much more ridiculous to the cashier, but again there was no question or comment. I'd like to think I caused a little confusion in her day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Al9L_V73MT4/VZ8vBNTWMmI/AAAAAAAAC-U/f32S67eLCSU/s1600/IMG_5912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Al9L_V73MT4/VZ8vBNTWMmI/AAAAAAAAC-U/f32S67eLCSU/s320/IMG_5912.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the station, being run by the amazing volunteers that show up every year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As we are on the topic of me buying weird things before a bike race, I am remembering a last minute trip to Sprawl-Wart before the 12 Hours in the Wild West this spring. &nbsp;I wanted dog tie downs and leads to contain the pooches, and we needed some Almond milk for the kiddo's cereal. &nbsp;And on my way to finding the milk I came across the liquor aisle, and happened to grab a handle of Jack Daniels. &nbsp;So, dog ties, almond milk, and a lot of whiskey. &nbsp;I asked the cashier if this was one of the more odd collections of 3 items she had seen. I believe her reply was "not even close." &nbsp;I can only imagine what would get the attention of a seasoned Sprawl-Wart employee. &nbsp;I have since found out that this is a bit of <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/kmallikarjuna/lets-play-the-walmart-game#.siALYXnaZ" target="_blank">a game people (hypothetically) play</a>. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Besides bacon, Bikeworks also sponsored the Neutral Support station this year. &nbsp;It was a bit of a last minute thing, as the organizers needed help and thankfully Vince and Mike were up for it. &nbsp;Here is our setup, just past the start/finish line in "pit row":</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKD9ph56k9U/VZ8u_TozyRI/AAAAAAAAC94/x2VI-Xw3_Xk/s1600/IMG_5905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKD9ph56k9U/VZ8u_TozyRI/AAAAAAAAC94/x2VI-Xw3_Xk/s320/IMG_5905.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">However, just hanging out and fixing flats for 2 days sounded boring, so Vince and Mike signed up for the duo-singlespeed category. &nbsp;They planned on each taking a few laps casually in addition to fixing bikes and drinking beer etc. &nbsp;To make things more interesting, they chose to ride Mike's awesome Schwinn Panther coaster brake "klunker". &nbsp;They both rode the same bike, just adjusting saddle height between laps. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNBJXMq-zw0/VZ8vD1x0mfI/AAAAAAAAC_A/pxxCIx-1PwU/s1600/IMG_5918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kNBJXMq-zw0/VZ8vD1x0mfI/AAAAAAAAC_A/pxxCIx-1PwU/s320/IMG_5918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One speed, rigid, coaster brake only, carbon rims, DH tires, and the legendary Schwinn Panther frame. &nbsp;Drool on that you bike nerds!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Despite claims that they were barely going to ride, Mike and Vince got inspired during the race and finished a total of 9 laps, coming in 2nd place. &nbsp;The bike worked very well, however Mike did feel the need to re-pack the coaster brake mid race as they had managed to burn off a lot of grease on the descent. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsixqgoKkOs/VZ85wGRgSSI/AAAAAAAAC_g/i1SYOvdDYio/s1600/IMG_5914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YsixqgoKkOs/VZ85wGRgSSI/AAAAAAAAC_g/i1SYOvdDYio/s320/IMG_5914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mike repacking the hub, Charlie providing moral support.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The "Neutral Support" job turned out to be a fair bit busier than we had expected. &nbsp;I think there was some different ideas about what neutral support is, and at least a few racers seemed to think it was the "free tuneup right before you race station". &nbsp;We weren't entirely prepared for the level of disrepair that some bikes were in when they arrived to the race, but we managed to save the day for more than a few racers, and their gratification was rewarding. &nbsp;But if we agree to do it again, we will bring more shop supplies, and more spare parts, and maybe a credit card swiper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Personally I was racing Solo Singlespeed, as I have been doing for the rest of the Zia Rides series. &nbsp;I have been racing a Spot Honey Badger this whole year. It is an awesome steel frame the Spot recently decided to discontinue. Hopefully they will replace it with something even better (and we happen to have a couple left on our sales floor, on sale even!). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxlJd1OSH28/VZ9JrZq490I/AAAAAAAAC_4/z5U7sOx9QlQ/s1600/IMG_5919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sxlJd1OSH28/VZ9JrZq490I/AAAAAAAAC_4/z5U7sOx9QlQ/s320/IMG_5919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This bike has gone through a couple of changes this year so far. &nbsp;The most exciting being the Enve M60 hoops on Chris King hubs, wrapped in some Maxxis Ardent skinwalls just for style points. &nbsp;I am really quite enamored with these wheels, they are so much more laterally stiff than the other 3 pairs of wheels I've had on this frame that I actually ride the bike differently, turning in later, cornering harder, braking less and feeling the tires grip with more confidence. &nbsp;It's stupid fun, I'm hooked.<br /><br />This was my first real attempt at soloing a 24 hour race, but after two 12's, and a 10 finished already this spring I figured I was in a good place to give it a shot. &nbsp;I wasn't taking it too seriously, I was riding pretty fast laps because the course was fun, and then taking decent brakes every other lap or so. &nbsp;Only drank a couple of beers during the day, and at one point Vince cooked up some steaks, which I don't believe is on the approved mid-race diet, but it was amazing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67R2-YjEIPs/VZ9UhOxUe9I/AAAAAAAADAo/7VhNKMmYwsU/s1600/IMG_5916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-67R2-YjEIPs/VZ9UhOxUe9I/AAAAAAAADAo/7VhNKMmYwsU/s320/IMG_5916.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">While riding I had the idea of taking a selfie after every lap, but I managed to remember just once, about 5 laps in.</div><br />I managed to only take about a 4 hour nap in the night, and get back up in time for the sunrise lap, which is always my favorite part of a 24 hr race. &nbsp;In the end I finished 4th, behind 3 badasses who didn't stop at all during the night. &nbsp;I finished 11 of the fourteen mile long laps, a personal mileage record on any sort of bike. &nbsp;The singlespeed winner, Rich Emery, put in an impressive 15 laps.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZcAq8ZnoJ0/VZ9SWFdKeBI/AAAAAAAADAc/HY4_XkjfBKs/s1600/IMG_5908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZcAq8ZnoJ0/VZ9SWFdKeBI/AAAAAAAADAc/HY4_XkjfBKs/s320/IMG_5908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The turnout seemed good this year, not sure how many people raced, maybe a million?</div><br />The co-ed 4 person category turned out to be very popular this year, and a few very competitive teams did some good battling through the night. &nbsp;The Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution team took the win with 23 laps, after spending much of the race neck and neck with the Stans No-Tubes team. &nbsp;It was fun for us to keep tabs on the battle as 3 out of 4 members on each team are good friends and customers of ours (the 4th on each team we just don't know, but I'm sure we'd be friends given the company they keep).<br /><br />Charlie and Danny were also on a 4 person co-ed, with Anona and Brooke. They finished about mid pack with 19 laps. I'm sure they have some stories to tell from the race, but I don't know them. I think I saw Danny for about 10 minutes during the whole race, which is a bummer, because we totally don't get to spend enough time together.<br /><br />And that's about all I have to talk about for the race. &nbsp;I'm kind of out of pictures, and really I just rode my bike in circles the majority of the time. &nbsp;I think some other stuff must have happened, I heard there was trouble with somebody smoking weed in the outhouses (odd choice when you are out in the woods), and something about somebody starting a forest fire, and some drunk locals causing a ruckus, but I really missed it all.<br /><br />If anybody has any pics of the Bikeworks crew they'd like share, please send 'em my way!<br /><br />Thanks for reading!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/07/race-review-24-hours-in-enchanted.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-4562831635065452220Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:37:00 +00002015-06-12T07:48:35.520-06:00Some time wasting videos....Last week for some reason I kept coming across YouTube videos that seemed worthy of sharing. So here we are.<br /><br />Firstly, there was a video posted by Stevil over on <a href="http://allhailtheblackmarket.com/" target="_blank">All Hail the Black Market</a>. &nbsp;It's about Matt Hoffman and Dennis McCoy crashing into each other on a half pipe, and the resulting injury is incredibly gross and painful looking. &nbsp;If don't blame you if you don't want to watch it, but I want to point out the moral of the story, which is make sure you have some good sturdy bar plugs installed on your handlebars please. <br /><br />&nbsp; <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZG7WCKCNXL0" width="400"></iframe><br /><br />I think I'm going to start using pillows as bar plugs now.<br /><br />Secondly, have you ever seen the cartoon Adventure Time? &nbsp;Well here's something incredibly stupid to get stuck in your head. It's not new, but it's new to me, so here you go...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cUYSGojUuAU" width="400"></iframe><br /><br />My kids were so inspired by this that they convinced their Mom to take them to the store just for bacon and then go home and make bacon pancakes, and then they didn't even save one for me.<br /><br />And lastly (but certainly not leastly), there is a 30 minute long masterpiece called Kung Fury, which you need to know about. I'll just go ahead and say you're welcome now.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bS5P_LAqiVg" width="400"></iframe><br /><br />Thats all. Now you know what it was like to work at Bikeworks last week, in a nutshell. http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/06/some-time-wasting-videos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-2938546368217971925Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:02:00 +00002015-06-01T19:02:46.038-06:00Coming Up: 24 Hours in the Enchanted ForestOn Mondays I often find myself daydreaming about what the next event or adventure will be. &nbsp;Even when my Monday is spent unpacking from the last race, as I fold up the camper and dump out the laundry bag I'm exhausted and wondering if we can head out again in 5 days. &nbsp;It can get a bit addictive, this bicycle racing business.<br /><br />So, whats next? &nbsp;For me, June has one main event, and it is 24 Hours in the Enchanted Forest on the weekend of the 20th. &nbsp;Just under 3 weeks out now, I'm already getting excited.<br /><br />Bikeworks has closed down and raced the Enchanted Forest 3 times, <a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2011/06/race-report-24-hours-in-enchanted.html" target="_blank">2011 (unicycles, Super Grover, and beer)</a>, <a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2012/06/race-report-24-hours-in-enchanted.html" target="_blank">2012 (all the bros, tequila, and beer)</a>, and <a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2013/06/race-review-2013-24-hours-in-enchanted.html" target="_blank">2013 (USAC screws everything up, mud, and beer)</a>. <br /><br />Honestly, 2013 was such a shit show we couldn't really work up the enthusiasm to return for 2014. But this year its on! USA Cycling will no longer be involved, which is definitely a positive for the race. &nbsp;The course has been shortened back down to 15 miles, which will be nice. &nbsp;Bikeworks will of course have a Bacon Station yet again. &nbsp;And for all you Dads out there, the race falls on Fathers Day, so you kind of get a pass to go do whatever you want (especially if you can convince your own Dad to come along, as I do). &nbsp;It's going to be a great race.<br /><br />And to make things even more interesting, June 20th happens to be the official day of Wizard Staffs Across the Universe. &nbsp;What's that, you've never heard of Wizard Staffs Across the Universe (WSATU)? &nbsp;Well, it is the brainchild of Stevil Kinevil from <a href="http://www.allhailtheblackmarket.com/" target="_blank">All Hail The Black Market</a>, who wisely decided that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizard_Staff" target="_blank">Wizard Staffs </a>is such a glorious game it deserves it own Universally recognized holiday. &nbsp;So we are going to have to integrate that into our race weekend somehow.<br /><br />There it is. &nbsp;Plenty of time left to get it on the calendar and start "training". &nbsp;We really hope to see you out there, because it is going to be a great time and the more the merrier.<br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/06/coming-up-24-hours-in-enchanted-forest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-552764565621439465Wed, 27 May 2015 04:30:00 +00002015-05-26T22:34:24.950-06:00Race Review: New Mexico Enduro Cup Glorieta Camps Enduro (Bro)I have been beating the "do you even Enduro, Bro?" joke like a dead horse. &nbsp;It is probably a year past due to give it up (Bro). &nbsp;It has nothing to do with a dislike for the cycling discipline of Enduro racing, but mostly having a laugh at the stupidity of the cycling industry in which I make my living.<br /><br />Two years ago at the Interbike Bicycle Tradeshow Extravaganza in the lovely cycling village of Las Vegas Nevada, absolutely everything new was labeled as "Enduro". &nbsp;It didn't matter what the component was, headset spacers, cable housing, chain lube, if it was a new product it had been optimized for Enduro. It was stupid, and it deserved to be mocked.<br /><br />But last weekend (or the weekend before last, whatever) I went and participated in my first Enduro race. &nbsp;And it was awesome. &nbsp;I had a fantastic day of riding bikes, racing bikes, and hanging out with friends. I met cool new people, rode cool new trails, rode up mountains until my lungs were screaming, and raced back down until my eyes were watering and my hands were cramping. &nbsp;It was the biz. <br /><br />Sadly though, I don't feel like I can make fun of Enduro, Bro, with quite the same satisfaction as I had before. &nbsp;Which is probably a good thing, as I was the only person still laughing.<br /><br />Anyway, on to the sick sick action shots of me racing that you all come here for....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z28mzP6IVDk/VWU69yicxfI/AAAAAAAAC48/TSILE71vQDo/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z28mzP6IVDk/VWU69yicxfI/AAAAAAAAC48/TSILE71vQDo/s400/IMG_5868.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You didn't even know it was possible to get that far off the ground on a bicycle, did you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Actually, I feel bad making fun of these photos, because the lovely and talented Marlene Squillaci took them, and if it wasn't for her skills as a photographer I'd look even more the hack that I am. &nbsp;(Marlene is the Mom of our teenager in residence at Bikeworks, young Taylor Squidlaunchy, by the way in case you were wondering.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Several other Bikeworks-ers were racing too! Such as Young Wesleytons, the afore mentioned Young Taylor Squidlaunchy, and Young Mike-hasn'tbeenworkingwithuslongenoughformetocomeupwithanickname.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjI55v01_LU/VWU9MfotcEI/AAAAAAAAC5c/l9yqLPqblgU/s1600/IMG_5844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zjI55v01_LU/VWU9MfotcEI/AAAAAAAAC5c/l9yqLPqblgU/s400/IMG_5844.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I asked for "game faces", so apparently that is what you see here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Also in attendance was our favorite Restaurateur (and second favorite redhead) the Young Jay "Wulfpack" Wulf.<br />&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyKJI4Ah_nI/VWU9Niq14TI/AAAAAAAAC5w/BOqNkUzUnw4/s1600/IMG_5850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyKJI4Ah_nI/VWU9Niq14TI/AAAAAAAAC5w/BOqNkUzUnw4/s400/IMG_5850.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Nobody calls me Wulfpack"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I mention Jay because a) He helped talk me into attending the race, b) I have a limited number of photos from the race, and c) One of the photos I have is Wulfpack sleeping off a hangover on his tailgate after the first stage.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itmET7OcGxo/VWU-xV11Z9I/AAAAAAAAC6A/UDO9MzyLOY0/s1600/IMG_5851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itmET7OcGxo/VWU-xV11Z9I/AAAAAAAAC6A/UDO9MzyLOY0/s400/IMG_5851.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nice socks, Wulfpack&nbsp;</div><br />Why was Wulfpack hungover you ask? Well, the night before was the Santa Fe Bike and Brew Festival, and there was brew, and a free concert by The Reverend Horton Heat. &nbsp;And it was fun (and cold, and a little drunk).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVm75qAB3cg/VWU-3F5lRJI/AAAAAAAAC6I/SavCqGV5i9A/s1600/IMG_5842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVm75qAB3cg/VWU-3F5lRJI/AAAAAAAAC6I/SavCqGV5i9A/s400/IMG_5842.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Where was I? Oh right, the racing of Enduro. &nbsp;Pre race looked like this...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urVOSbPr0Fw/VWU9MbGWtVI/AAAAAAAAC5U/Ev-ZvXV4gcE/s1600/IMG_5845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urVOSbPr0Fw/VWU9MbGWtVI/AAAAAAAAC5U/Ev-ZvXV4gcE/s400/IMG_5845.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Which is basically what post race looked like too, except everybody was sitting on the grass, and there were beer cans everywhere.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSt4gTxf_Dk/VWVAeVU-_7I/AAAAAAAAC6Y/bsFwMkTYQPU/s1600/IMG_5852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSt4gTxf_Dk/VWVAeVU-_7I/AAAAAAAAC6Y/bsFwMkTYQPU/s400/IMG_5852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Bikes is fun, beer is good."&nbsp;</div><br />People were a little less smiley at the beginning of "Stage 1" however, because it was preceded by a 2 mile slog in the mud up a dirt road. &nbsp;I personally did a lot of walking with my bike on my back, and I wasn't exactly in my happy place.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRoLo4l7Jlw/VWVBQZRhkmI/AAAAAAAAC6o/PoVfgrotpl8/s1600/IMG_5847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRoLo4l7Jlw/VWVBQZRhkmI/AAAAAAAAC6o/PoVfgrotpl8/s400/IMG_5847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The waiting line for Stage 1, as everybody tried desperately to get some rubber to peek through the mud on their tires.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But the suffering was soon forgotten as we were racing down the newly built "Chili Dog" trail, which was a blast.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9NVCwvihfE/VWU69tI_H3I/AAAAAAAAC5A/GFUZZxlsaAU/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9NVCwvihfE/VWU69tI_H3I/AAAAAAAAC5A/GFUZZxlsaAU/s400/IMG_5869.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me, forgetting the suffering, being mediocre, and puckering.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While Stage 1 was 2 miles up and about 6 minutes down, Stage 2 was about 50 miles up and 15 minutes down. (It only felt like 50 miles, it was really more like 5 or 7 or something). &nbsp;I really enjoyed Stage 2, it was less techy and more pedally and more my style (aka less scary).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stage 3 was cancelled due to mud. I don't know anything about it, since I went into the race completely blind and uninformed.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then we repeated Stage 1 to finish out the day (which was way more fun with less mud and having done it once already). &nbsp;And by then end, I don't think many people were sad about the missing stage, because it was a long day still and most people looked pretty worn out. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How did I do, I hear you not asking? &nbsp;Well, for perspective, our very own Young Mike-withoutanickname showed up as the freak of the race on a rigid Jeff Jones singlespeed with a fatbike front tire.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lStDGQBz8x0/VWU9MjdzLdI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/GlgPWCTPpp4/s1600/IMG_5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lStDGQBz8x0/VWU9MjdzLdI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/GlgPWCTPpp4/s400/IMG_5843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was so "not Enduro" that people dropped their jaws and shit their pants as he rode by.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So with Mike on a rigid singlespeed and me on a brand new $7,000 Yeti, I managed to beat him by about 5 seconds. &nbsp;Had we switched bikes, he would have beat me by an hour and a half.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjwB8JPAv0I/VWU69oCE0NI/AAAAAAAAC44/GeNpMzeeud4/s1600/IMG_5870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LjwB8JPAv0I/VWU69oCE0NI/AAAAAAAAC44/GeNpMzeeud4/s400/IMG_5870.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">What about that Yeti, you say? Well, it's the biz. 'Nuff said.&nbsp;</div><br />And we both finished mid-pack or so. &nbsp;And Young Wesleyton? Well he's a hoss uphill and downhill, and was in podium contention. We actually thought he was in 2nd in the 30+ Open category, then the final timing took forever, seemed to be a little screwey, and he ended up not on the podium. &nbsp;But it's all good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBwyntfR4LI/VWU9NXs_fPI/AAAAAAAAC5s/BeGDqBmeebs/s1600/IMG_5849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XBwyntfR4LI/VWU9NXs_fPI/AAAAAAAAC5s/BeGDqBmeebs/s400/IMG_5849.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wesleytons, pouting about the mud, but we can pretend it's him pouting about not being on the podium (which he totally didn't do).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And how did Young Squidlaunchy do? Well, he had some mechanicals, which seemed to be a result of his bike brand of choice (which we totally would never sell at Bikeworks), but we won't get into it because we're classy (but not classy enough to not mention it. Actually, I don't think anybody has every called me classy, so maybe I'm just full of it).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, um, yeah, there's all the pics that I have. The race was awesome. I had so much fun I can't wholeheartedly mock Enduro anymore, and if you want to go check it out for yourself &nbsp;look at the New Mexico Enduro Cup, which can be found below....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mountaintopcycling.com/2015-nm-enduro-cup/">http://mountaintopcycling.com/2015-nm-enduro-cup/</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that's all I've got. Boom! Microphone dropped! Proofread completed! Laptop closed! Blankets pulled up! Pillow snuggled! Sleepy time!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/05/race-review-glorieta-enduro-bro.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-8588262295019216923Wed, 20 May 2015 13:17:00 +00002015-05-20T07:17:13.691-06:00Race (and Not Race) Review: 12 Hours of Mesa VerdeMay has been interesting so far. &nbsp;We had some racing plans, and then there was weather.<br /><br />On May 9th we closed up shop so and headed up to Cortez CO to race the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde. This is a very popular race that takes place on the legendary Phil's World trail network. The race has historically sold out of it's approximately 1,000 spots in minutes. It's just that good.<br /><br />This year the organizers opened registration up in two waves, and Danny managed to get a few of us signed up during the second wave. But, the only categories still open were Solo Singlespeed, and Duo Singlespeed. &nbsp;Danny and I signed up Solo Singlespeed, Wesleytons and Chuckles made up a Duo Singlespeed team.<br /><br />We did this race one other time, in 2011, which was the year of my Grover Campaign....<br /><a href="http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=304T00C6730000&amp;po=0&amp;pc=9">http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=304T00C6730000&amp;po=0&amp;pc=9</a><br /><br />The weather forecast for this year was a little iffy, but not terrible. So we packed up and headed out. I brought the whole family; Wife, Kiddos, Parents, even my in-laws came out to see the show. <br /><br />We set up camp under overcast skies.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3u-lLNqBA/VVx9GRZNmuI/AAAAAAAAC3A/RjTO6S1O4YY/s1600/IMG_5797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sm3u-lLNqBA/VVx9GRZNmuI/AAAAAAAAC3A/RjTO6S1O4YY/s320/IMG_5797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then we headed out to Packet Pickup. &nbsp;Wesleytons figured it was a special event so he brought the fanny pack.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTlH0ecQ-VU/VVx9GZoKacI/AAAAAAAAC3I/pOp5NfeDf5o/s1600/IMG_5794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTlH0ecQ-VU/VVx9GZoKacI/AAAAAAAAC3I/pOp5NfeDf5o/s320/IMG_5794.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Packet pickup was a Kokopelli Bike and Board in Cortez, which is a very cool shop. &nbsp;Particularly cool is their vintage mountain bike collection with all sorts of gems hanging on the walls. My favorite was this Crestone.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9pQ_rvSZSI/VVx9GerrZbI/AAAAAAAAC3E/NXyrNZJ9n4Q/s1600/IMG_5795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9pQ_rvSZSI/VVx9GerrZbI/AAAAAAAAC3E/NXyrNZJ9n4Q/s320/IMG_5795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have never seen or heard of a Crestone before, but this thing has giant rubber bands for suspension, it is awesome mountain bike ingenuity from the '90s. &nbsp;Looks like the Museum of Mountain Bikes "MOMBAT" has one too... &nbsp;<a href="http://www.mombat.org/MOMBAT/Bikes/1994_Crestone_Peak.html">http://www.mombat.org/MOMBAT/Bikes/1994_Crestone_Peak.html</a><br /><br />I was woken up during the night from flashes of lightning and the sound of rain hammering the trailer. It was cold and wet outside, and I wasn't exactly excited about it. &nbsp; Morning came early after a few too many pre-race beers (and/or scotch for some), and it was cold but dry as we prepared. &nbsp;Then the rain started again just as we were lined up for the Le Mans start. <br /><br />After a few miles of riding the rain turned to snow. &nbsp;Then it kind of turned to hail, then a &nbsp;kind of sleet, some sideways snow, then maybe a little rain again. &nbsp;Basically it was just cold and wet. &nbsp;About halfway through the lap the course started getting saturated, the mud was sticking and the trail was getting slippery.<br /><br />I had a pretty good start, and had managed to avoid the slow bottleneck crowds that can happen on the first lap. &nbsp;So I finished my first lap in about an hour and a half, and that allowed me to get off the trail before it became unrideable. &nbsp;But I saw some pics later of riders walking their bikes because of the mud. <br /><br />I came in from my lap cold and wet and muddy. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8-2ywvmx9g/VVx8HmVbq2I/AAAAAAAAC2c/Qaa4C-bvGRc/s1600/IMG_5801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8-2ywvmx9g/VVx8HmVbq2I/AAAAAAAAC2c/Qaa4C-bvGRc/s320/IMG_5801.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />After about 30 minutes of trying to clean, change, and warm up my Dad knocked on the door to tell me the race had been postponed until 10:00. &nbsp;Sounded good to me. &nbsp;Now I could think about how to deal with my bike...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5w1FiX8zUY/VVx8IuvoPjI/AAAAAAAAC2s/0Cqz59mxuII/s1600/IMG_5805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5w1FiX8zUY/VVx8IuvoPjI/AAAAAAAAC2s/0Cqz59mxuII/s320/IMG_5805.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />At 10:00 it was still raining and there was a meeting. &nbsp;They decided to call off the race. &nbsp;Fears of people's safety and the well being of the trails were valid. &nbsp;Best to cut your losses and not destroy these highly valued trails. &nbsp;It was time to drink beer.<br /><br />We were planning on camping out for the weekend, so we just stuck around. &nbsp;It was Oliver's 5th birthday soon, so we took the opportunity for a little birthday celebration with all his Grandparents.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cP5BfVAsdo/VVyEq3qF0_I/AAAAAAAAC3k/xyx0NFOCxaA/s1600/IMG_5806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cP5BfVAsdo/VVyEq3qF0_I/AAAAAAAAC3k/xyx0NFOCxaA/s320/IMG_5806.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w33TioB4FDs/VVyErzN2kPI/AAAAAAAAC3w/AVKR6G2ZWgw/s1600/IMG_5809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w33TioB4FDs/VVyErzN2kPI/AAAAAAAAC3w/AVKR6G2ZWgw/s320/IMG_5809.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />On Sunday morning my Dad took my Mom and Kristi out for a ride and then we moved to a KOA a couple miles down the road for the night. &nbsp;There were scattered showers the whole day, but nothing serious. &nbsp;So finally at about 5pm my Dad and I headed out to do a ride in Phil's World again. &nbsp;We just rode the race course, as it was still taped. &nbsp;About halfway through a hail storm caught us. &nbsp;It only rained/hailed for a little while, but it was enough to totally saturate the ground again.<br /><br />I had just cleaned my bike up, and now it was even muddier than before.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTPyjqqIGvM/VVyGUdQkxKI/AAAAAAAAC4U/ZMM92HPWyiQ/s1600/IMG_5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rTPyjqqIGvM/VVyGUdQkxKI/AAAAAAAAC4U/ZMM92HPWyiQ/s320/IMG_5823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Cold and wet for the second time in 2 days, I was not amused.<br /><br />And that's about how the weekend went. &nbsp;Monday morning we woke to clear skies and sunshine while we packed up and headed home. I had quite a pile of muddy stuff to deal with when we got in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVe2dJdKxVg/VVyGUTPFaWI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/9w_szwBvop0/s1600/IMG_5824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVe2dJdKxVg/VVyGUTPFaWI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/9w_szwBvop0/s320/IMG_5824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Not the way I had hoped the weekend would play out. But with all my wonderful family there for company we still had a fun time.<br /><br />Check back soon for my next story about not racing Dawn til Dusk due to snow, and instead racing the Glorieta Enduro, and getting completely muddy! &nbsp;Thanks for reading!http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/05/race-and-not-race-review-12-hours-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-6961938524751874639Thu, 16 Apr 2015 05:04:00 +00002015-04-15T23:04:30.583-06:00Race Review: 2015 12 Hours in the Wild WestLast weekend I was lucky enough to spend participating in yet another Zia Rides event, this time the 12 Hours in the Wild West.<br /><br />By my maths, this is the 4th running of this event, and the 3rd time I have been there to play along. The inaugural event was in 2011, when I participated as part of a 4 man team with Alex, Paul, and Charlie. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2012/05/12-hours-of-wild-west-race-report.html" target="_blank">In 2012 I went again</a> and raced solo, casually, and I didn't win. &nbsp;In 2013 I went solo again, <a href="http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2013/04/race-report-12-hours-in-wild-west-2013.html" target="_blank">bringing a fat bike and food poisoning</a>. &nbsp;We skipped 2014, I think because 2013 was so much "fun" we had to take a year off. &nbsp;But this year I've been banging out the 12 Hour races, so I signed up once again and headed out.<br /><br />There were some last minute changes this year, due to trail conditions it was decided that the course would be ran in reverse (clockwise) direction from all years prior. &nbsp;This excited me a bit, since it would be different than before, and hopefully that would keep things interesting. <br /><br />This year I brought my beautiful Wife and kids along, and we used our new-to-us pop up camper for the first time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWOWku9MdkQ/VS82RXNEJfI/AAAAAAAACyw/tVO6LJVw3Xg/s1600/IMG_5689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DWOWku9MdkQ/VS82RXNEJfI/AAAAAAAACyw/tVO6LJVw3Xg/s1600/IMG_5689.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is Oliver (my 4 year old), Dr. Dave (the Doctor), and Scott (the dog) showing off the new trailer and our custom Bikeworks flag made from a XXXL jersey that we couldn't sell. &nbsp;It was really fun having our own little camper setup, and definitely made it more enjoyable to hang out all day for the rest of the family while I was racing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of kids, Zia Rides did an amazing job keeping the little ones occupied this year during the race. &nbsp;During packet pickup Friday, they had a local story teller come in, a fire pit with s'mores provided, and they even showed an outdoor kids movie around the fire with a projector. &nbsp;My kiddos were thrilled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJ6SY8o5VIQ/VS84UPeRq3I/AAAAAAAACzE/eaP2KYyG5RM/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJ6SY8o5VIQ/VS84UPeRq3I/AAAAAAAACzE/eaP2KYyG5RM/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Julian, my 7 year old, being totally stoked on campfire and s'mores)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there was a kids race during the middle of the day Saturday. &nbsp;Unfortunately I missed the kids race, but both my boys participated. &nbsp;The coolest thing was that all the kids who race were given belt buckle trophies, the same ones that the adults were competing for, during the awards ceremony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dFU0CF8_gY/VS85PeP6hvI/AAAAAAAACzQ/oO9nYF3gAaw/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3dFU0CF8_gY/VS85PeP6hvI/AAAAAAAACzQ/oO9nYF3gAaw/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(stoked kiddos)&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMSlXhz3HVE/VS85Vbh0CTI/AAAAAAAACzo/Pqc6AmdVOYs/s1600/IMG_0371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMSlXhz3HVE/VS85Vbh0CTI/AAAAAAAACzo/Pqc6AmdVOYs/s1600/IMG_0371.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Belt Buckle!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was really appreciative of all the effort put into keeping it fun for the family. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of podiums, I managed to get 2nd place this year in the Solo Singlespeed category. &nbsp;Having raced solo singlespeed 12 hours at El Paso in February, and in Silver City in March, I was starting to feel like I knew I was capable of, and actually set some goals for the first time this race. &nbsp;I managed to keep my pit times down to what felt like a bare minimum, and I rode until I ran out of time. &nbsp;That ended up meaning 8 laps (at 14 miles each) in about 11 1/2 hours. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My personal race ended up being a pretty competitive battle with <a href="http://richmaines.com/" target="_blank">Rich Maines</a>, where I led the race for the first 4 laps, then he passed me in the pits and I chased about 5 minutes behind for laps 5 and 6. &nbsp;But I totally blew myself up trying to close down those minutes and fell apart on lap 6. &nbsp;Fortunately my pit crew (my Mom, Dad, and Wife) were there to save me. &nbsp;I came straggling in and sat down to rest for the first time during the race. &nbsp;My Mom had just made a big pile of mac and cheese for the kiddos, and I ate what I presume to be all of it. &nbsp;My Dad fed me some ibuprofen because my neck was killing me, and my Wife gave me a shoulder massage. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somehow I got back onto my feet, expecting a stomach ache and planning on just doing one more lap. &nbsp;Luckily, a few miles in, the mac n cheese was settled nicely, the pain killers were doing there job, and I felt better than I had in hours. &nbsp;Lap 7 cruised on by somehow, and I knew that I'd be able to crank out an 8th, hoping that would solidly put me into 2nd place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lap 8 was uneventful except that Swedish Diesel Daniel Appelo saw me rolling out for my lap and decided that I could use some company. &nbsp;So he caught up to me and we rode together and talked the entire time. &nbsp;I felt like we were taking it easy, and he had to wait for me repeatedly, but it ended up being one of my faster laps and the time went by very easily. &nbsp;Thanks Daniel!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't manage to get a very good podium pic of my own....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvFamfhqrdQ/VS8-fE0p3zI/AAAAAAAACz8/GG8uuPwZmAk/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvFamfhqrdQ/VS8-fE0p3zI/AAAAAAAACz8/GG8uuPwZmAk/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Thats me on the podium, mostly blocked by the guy in the beanie)&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>But 1st place finisher Rich Maines got a great pic, which he shared on the Instagrams.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zCZP_AMW8iI/VS8-fUVsRkI/AAAAAAAAC0E/JoJtIqJflzw/s1600/IMG_5707.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zCZP_AMW8iI/VS8-fUVsRkI/AAAAAAAAC0E/JoJtIqJflzw/s1600/IMG_5707.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Julian was still so amped on his belt buckle that he made a second trip up to the podium to accompany me)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the race we headed to the Valley of Fires state park with my parents, which is just past Carrizozo and only about 30 minutes from the race venue. &nbsp;It's a really neat campground in the lava flow that I had only just cruised right through every year before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrS5z1QOWLc/VS9AIF8CTMI/AAAAAAAAC0o/DL3HsysArWg/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrS5z1QOWLc/VS9AIF8CTMI/AAAAAAAAC0o/DL3HsysArWg/s1600/IMG_5704.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lava!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zfu-TnuioI8/VS9AISRVrrI/AAAAAAAAC0s/GZMcLtxLbqg/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zfu-TnuioI8/VS9AISRVrrI/AAAAAAAAC0s/GZMcLtxLbqg/s1600/IMG_5705.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Lava!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oU9iPw3Oc8Y/VS9AI4Sjo-I/AAAAAAAAC04/H-BiJOLLYjA/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oU9iPw3Oc8Y/VS9AI4Sjo-I/AAAAAAAAC04/H-BiJOLLYjA/s1600/IMG_5706.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lava!!!! (and the sun came out for like 5 minutes!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a very developed park, nice for RV's and trailers, but there are some very nice tent camping spots tucked away quietly at the back of the park away from the road noise. &nbsp;There is a little 3/4 mile paved "hike" around in the lava flow with informative signage along the way. &nbsp;It was perfect for the little ones, and the adults found it fun too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We really lucked out on the nice weather for the race, because all day Sunday and Monday it was overcast, rainy, and howling winds. &nbsp;So that made exploring the lava flow a little less fun, but it did give us a good excuse to hang out in our new trailer, drink booze, play cards, and generally be happy that we weren't in a tent at the moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPHEq5Ykd6k/VS9AHFs4xsI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/ipHx7yydJig/s1600/IMG_5702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nPHEq5Ykd6k/VS9AHFs4xsI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/ipHx7yydJig/s1600/IMG_5702.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(it's just a little trailer, but we're a pretty small family)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was another awesome weekend of racing. &nbsp;Thanks so much to <a href="http://www.ziarides.com/" target="_blank">Lindsay and Seth from Zia Rides</a> for putting on another amazing event! &nbsp;I can't wait for the next one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/04/race-review-2015-12-hours-in-wild-west.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-1884547732074949066Tue, 07 Apr 2015 04:01:00 +00002015-04-06T22:01:05.154-06:00News! We are ABQ's Exclusive Yeti Dealer Anybody who has rolled through the shop these past couple weeks probably noticed that there is a whole lot of Turquoise on display lately. &nbsp;And it's not because we are gearing up to move to Santa Fe. &nbsp;We are officially the new exclusive dealer for Yeti in Albuquerque.<br /><br />For reals! Check it out, we are even on the dealer locator....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/#/dealers/dealer_search">http://www.yeticycles.com/#/dealers/dealer_search</a><br /><br />(I find seeing our shop on these dealer locaters very satisfying for some reason.)<br /><br />We have wanted to be a Yeti dealer for many years now, but it previously wasn't possible due to other arrangements they had with shops in town. &nbsp;But an opportunity came up recently and jumped on it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfY9oa0bL88/VSNRh7uN9dI/AAAAAAAACxk/y1r-EQ-UcIs/s1600/yeti-sb5c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfY9oa0bL88/VSNRh7uN9dI/AAAAAAAACxk/y1r-EQ-UcIs/s1600/yeti-sb5c-1.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/sb5c" target="_blank">(the SB5 C, the ultimate trail bike?)</a></div><br />It turns out many of our dedicated customers are Yeti fans as well, because as word started spreading all the usual suspects came rolling in placing orders. &nbsp;The SB5C has been the most sought after so far, closely followed by the ASR C and the completely sold out SB6 C.<br /><br />We have a couple of SB5C frames on the wall at the moment, just waiting to get built. &nbsp;And we will have demo bikes available in both medium and large in the very near future (like as soon as we get a minute to build them).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LniyDK_3nBk/VSNTw5HNWHI/AAAAAAAACxw/joyxTSQ3VrM/s1600/asrc_overview_side_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LniyDK_3nBk/VSNTw5HNWHI/AAAAAAAACxw/joyxTSQ3VrM/s1600/asrc_overview_side_high.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/asrc" target="_blank">The ASR C</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The ASRC is Yeti's 4" race machine. &nbsp;We have built one so far, with XX1, the Rock Shox RS-1 fork, and some trail worthy carbon wheels. &nbsp;With reasonable tires, plenty of sealant, and pedals it weighed just a hair over 23 lbs. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqKuwyXzYPQ/VSNVY-rOMTI/AAAAAAAACx8/K2CrNjbnwVQ/s1600/2015_Yeti_SB6C_Side_ND_Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WqKuwyXzYPQ/VSNVY-rOMTI/AAAAAAAACx8/K2CrNjbnwVQ/s1600/2015_Yeti_SB6C_Side_ND_Green.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yeticycles.com/#/bikes/sb6c" target="_blank">The SB6 C</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The SB6 C is their big trail bike, "Enduro" if you will. &nbsp;We haven't had a chance to get our hands on one yet, as Yeti has been completely sold out of these for a while now. &nbsp;But we have one sold arriving this month, and we will get one or two of our own just as soon as we can.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They have a few other models too, but you can go check out the website for those, because I'm getting tired of typing now and it's time to watch some Archer on Netflix.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So stop on by and drool on our new toys with us!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for reading.</div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/04/news-we-are-abqs-exclusive-yeti-dealer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-3247266959132814430Fri, 06 Feb 2015 05:30:00 +00002015-02-05T22:30:00.417-07:00Race Review: 12 Hours of Old El Paso, 2015 Edition<div class="p1">The forecast had been uninspiring for days. We awoke on Saturday morning in El Paso to find the skies grey and gloomy, moisture in the air, but at least it wasn’t actually raining. &nbsp;It had rained on us the entire way from Albuquerque to El Paso, but we were defiantly optimistic about race day. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">The race started at 10am. 10am to 10pm, kind of unusual for a 12 hour race, but I enjoy it since early mornings have never been my thing.&nbsp; The later start meant that we had plenty of time for a nice breakfast. Well, as nice as we could find in that part of El Paso anyway. Despite my best phone searching efforts, our best boiled down to Dennys or Village Inn.&nbsp; Kind of a toss up, we went for Dennys for the second year in a row. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuHrTzIhctI/VNRKv6SLahI/AAAAAAAACtU/jx69K_YqPc8/s1600/IMG_5504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EuHrTzIhctI/VNRKv6SLahI/AAAAAAAACtU/jx69K_YqPc8/s1600/IMG_5504.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">(meh)</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">As our crew milled about my minivan that served as our base camp, pumping tires and carefully choosing gear, the rain started to move in. At about 9:30 it was drizzling.&nbsp; At 9:45 it was raining properly.&nbsp; There was a second wave of dressing, everybody scrambling to decide just how wet it was going to be. How dry we needed to stay on that first lap to give ourselves a fighting chance to last 12 hours.&nbsp; Things got quiet. It’s pretty uninspiring to start a 12 hour race in the rain, in the desert, in January. This is going to be fun, right guys? Right!?</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nmkTebyD_Y/VNRM0B0dBdI/AAAAAAAACt4/u3Zn_JpiyoI/s1600/IMG_5505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nmkTebyD_Y/VNRM0B0dBdI/AAAAAAAACt4/u3Zn_JpiyoI/s1600/IMG_5505.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1"></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">(a very grey start)</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">As Swinton and I finally rolled away from the car to the start line, we saw that we had missed the start.&nbsp; The LeMans run was over and everybody was climbing on their bikes.&nbsp; Oh well, we decided to turn back to the car and go for one more layer of booties/winter shoes. I’m glad we did.</div><div class="p1">So we started the race in the back.&nbsp; Less than a mile in we came across a few people on the side of the trail, seems there was some sort of a pileup. One guy was a little banged up, but he would be fine.&nbsp; Starting late seemed like a decent choice. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">Swinton had chosen to finally test the Lauf fork that our friend Marc had loaned us to check out. &nbsp;It's basically a modern version of a springer fork, with about two inches of carbon leaf sprung, undamped suspension. &nbsp;It's a lot like strapping a wiggly pogo stick to the front of your bike. But it's light, and carbon, so that's what matters, right?</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfv1vTNPMUk/VNRMBBm8IcI/AAAAAAAACtg/R6U91GMSASU/s1600/IMG_5501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sfv1vTNPMUk/VNRMBBm8IcI/AAAAAAAACtg/R6U91GMSASU/s1600/IMG_5501.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9n2viHoFNRI/VNRMBYJ_9wI/AAAAAAAACtk/Sbhv5Tybliw/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9n2viHoFNRI/VNRMBYJ_9wI/AAAAAAAACtk/Sbhv5Tybliw/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">(err, yeah)</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: left;">Swinton completed one lap, slowly, then switched to a Giant Trance 29 with a real fork, and got back up speed for lap 2.</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">I was riding my Spot Honeybadger. &nbsp;I have owned a very large number of singlespeed 29ers over the past 7 years (since we opened the shop), and I can't think of any that I liked better than this one. &nbsp;It is probably the smoothest riding hardtail that I've ever been on, and the handling is grin inducing. Coincidentally, we sell them ;)</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1"><a href="http://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/honey-badger-ss/">http://spotbrand.com/bikes/product-page/honey-badger-ss/</a></div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">The course for 12 Hours of Old El Paso is pretty fun.&nbsp; The first couple miles are generally flat with constant turns through the cactus shrubs.&nbsp; Then there are about 3 miles of climbing, generally on road and two track. This is the worst part of the course. But the climbing isn’t bad, there are just a couple of steep grunts, otherwise it’s pretty gradual. Mile marker 6 was always a victory. Although the course was over 11 miles long, it felt like you were home free after mile 6.&nbsp; There was still a bit of climbing to get through, but the majority of miles 6 through 11 were fast, flowey twisty and fun. They would fly by quickly. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhPkqBQ4n60/VNRMz09YWdI/AAAAAAAACt0/lxJ0nVPD4Pk/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhPkqBQ4n60/VNRMz09YWdI/AAAAAAAACt0/lxJ0nVPD4Pk/s1600/IMG_5507.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1"></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">(somewhere between mile 3 and 5)</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">Luckily the soil (or lack thereof) had no problem dealing with the moisture.&nbsp; It had been generally raining for a couple days, but there was no mud, and only a few puddles.&nbsp; By about noon the rain had backed off for good, and the puddles disappeared shortly after. Leaving just nice packed grippy moist single track that made for some fast lap times.&nbsp; There was just one short stretch, maybe a couple hundred yards, where there seemed to be some actual soil that had turned to mud.&nbsp; It was also littered with cow patties.&nbsp; We were all a little anxious of getting some cow shit on our bottles, but we seem to have made it through unscathed. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHelj0UPQM4/VNRMzmMWgUI/AAAAAAAACtw/t4cVpCeO-VE/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHelj0UPQM4/VNRMzmMWgUI/AAAAAAAACtw/t4cVpCeO-VE/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(selfie after lap 3. Finally having faith that the rain is done for the day)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1">I did this race last year on a geared bike.&nbsp; Riding together with Doctors Dave and Brad, we finished 6 laps.&nbsp; I was hoping to do 1 better than that this year, on a singlespeed, and finish 7 laps. Swinton had declared that since he had gears he would have to do at least one more lap than me. After spending the fall and winter just riding cyclocross, and having not put in any long rides in quite a while, we didn’t really know what kind of miles our legs would have in them. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDU2FqcM6fE/VNRM0pgetgI/AAAAAAAACuA/P7h_N04uif4/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDU2FqcM6fE/VNRM0pgetgI/AAAAAAAACuA/P7h_N04uif4/s1600/IMG_5511.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">(the sunset was amazing. Sundown and sunrise laps are always my favorites at 12 and 24hr races)</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">In the end, Swinton managed 9 laps, and I did 8.&nbsp; That was good enough to get 3rd and 1st respectively, but I only had one other guy in my field.&nbsp; The two guys that beat Danny did 12 laps each, which is brutal. And the second place guy finished his last lap 9:59:20, just 40 seconds to spare before the end of the race. Talk about getting your moneys worth.</div><div class="p1">Anona did 7 laps, which got her 1st in the Womens Solo by a whole lap. Dr. Brad finished 7 laps, completing his goal of 1 more than last year, and Dr. Dave did 6, which was admirable since he felt so lousy that he first tried to skip going, then considered not riding at all that morning, and only got on his bike since we harassed him into it. &nbsp;</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbGJeoyrZmQ/VNROs18FxtI/AAAAAAAACuU/L4rDvfj_KGw/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QbGJeoyrZmQ/VNROs18FxtI/AAAAAAAACuU/L4rDvfj_KGw/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">Here I am, climbing off my bike after finishing my last lap. &nbsp;My back and hands hurt the most. Surprisingly, my legs never really gave up on me. &nbsp;I got all my calories for the race from drinking Tailwind, about a bottle per lap, and eating a handful of Enduro Bites. &nbsp;It worked great, but I was very ready for some real food by the time I was finished.</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1"><a href="http://www.tailwindnutrition.com/">http://www.tailwindnutrition.com/</a></div><div class="p1"><a href="http://endurobites.com/">http://endurobites.com/</a></div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1">I would definitely recommend checking out this race. It’s an easy drive from Albuquerque, and it’s a great way to kick start the 12 and 24 hour racing for the year.&nbsp; We drove home getting excited to do the next race in the Zia Rides series, the new and free 10 hour race in Silver City, the Tommynocker, in March. &nbsp;</div><br /><div class="p1">Hope to see you there!</div><div class="p1"><br /></div><div class="p1"><a href="http://www.ziarides.com/events/tommyknocker10/">http://www.ziarides.com/events/tommyknocker10/</a></div>http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/02/race-review-12-hours-of-old-el-paso.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-7942809883740622078Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:49:00 +00002015-01-11T19:49:01.215-07:00Oh, hi there 2015! Boats! Santini! Borealis! Exclamation Points!So, new year and such, eh?<br /><br />Firstly, we'd like to say thank you to all our awesome customers for making 2014 our biggest year ever! &nbsp;If we continue seeing this type of growth, I'll be placing an order for my Yacht in another 150 years or so!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/R7yfISlGLNU" width="560"></iframe> <br /><div style="text-align: center;">(oldie but goodie!)</div>New Year? New Stuff! &nbsp;After some serious down time without Bikeworks bottles to sell, they are back with a vengeance!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3to50BMcCes/VLGsF1KCCMI/AAAAAAAACmY/1zJSu3Gtugs/s1600/IMG_5282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3to50BMcCes/VLGsF1KCCMI/AAAAAAAACmY/1zJSu3Gtugs/s1600/IMG_5282.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />The Podium bottle from CamelBack is the best bike bottle out there, and it's even better when it says Bikeworks on it!<br /><br />Whats that? You want to see more new stuff that says Bikeworks on it? Fine!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWUcLJRdTs8/VLGyR2hionI/AAAAAAAACms/jX4K8JHW5Pw/s1600/IMG_5394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWUcLJRdTs8/VLGyR2hionI/AAAAAAAACms/jX4K8JHW5Pw/s1600/IMG_5394.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arm warmers by Santini to match our jersey oh so perfectly. And....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4CuIlb8kHA/VLGyR6W6giI/AAAAAAAACmo/_q-Yy-vORUE/s1600/IMG_5395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L4CuIlb8kHA/VLGyR6W6giI/AAAAAAAACmo/_q-Yy-vORUE/s1600/IMG_5395.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thermal insulated long sleeve jerseys. <br /><br />We are loving all our new clothes from Santini. &nbsp;Made in Italy goodness.<br /><br />In other new news, we have a new brand! We are now New Mexico's first Borealis dealer! High performance fat bikes! Ride it everywhere, feel like a little kid, shit eating grins guaranteed! Exclamation points!!!!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkvIUSq4WZI/VLG1s93bZUI/AAAAAAAACm8/xgR8B_sahNI/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xkvIUSq4WZI/VLG1s93bZUI/AAAAAAAACm8/xgR8B_sahNI/s1600/IMG_5413.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43ROOmV0KYo/VLG1v2hXPGI/AAAAAAAACnE/GZp5-WZ7p6o/s1600/IMG_5415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43ROOmV0KYo/VLG1v2hXPGI/AAAAAAAACnE/GZp5-WZ7p6o/s1600/IMG_5415.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I recently took the new Borealis up to Sandia Peak to try it out. And it was grand...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCkQtaRJc94/VLMzhgv2JJI/AAAAAAAACo8/MzNt3lxroJM/s1600/IMG_5429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCkQtaRJc94/VLMzhgv2JJI/AAAAAAAACo8/MzNt3lxroJM/s1600/IMG_5429.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the drive down was a little hairy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLX76NcCTPE/VLMzgxJ08hI/AAAAAAAACow/o9vopFq8qBw/s1600/IMG_5427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uLX76NcCTPE/VLMzgxJ08hI/AAAAAAAACow/o9vopFq8qBw/s1600/IMG_5427.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"hmmm, looks icy. Better take a pic"</div><br />Danny got a balance board for Christmas...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUVCOjFTsMs/VLMzg_Uz8KI/AAAAAAAACos/HwGOOl_53LY/s1600/IMG_5396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUVCOjFTsMs/VLMzg_Uz8KI/AAAAAAAACos/HwGOOl_53LY/s1600/IMG_5396.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />And we finally had a Bikeworks Crew bowling night. &nbsp;The most notable thing that happened was We's shirt, which was spectacular...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIotN22LlLw/VLMzg7scxfI/AAAAAAAACoo/M1Q4DrjCHx8/s1600/IMG_5425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HIotN22LlLw/VLMzg7scxfI/AAAAAAAACoo/M1Q4DrjCHx8/s1600/IMG_5425.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">"the pink ball man, it's all about the pink ball"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Who else saw the mudman down on the Bosque over the past couple of weeks? Sadly, I think is now longer with us...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kitReRoGmBY/VLM1CYHBXhI/AAAAAAAACpU/Xe9N5H46jRg/s1600/IMG_5365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kitReRoGmBY/VLM1CYHBXhI/AAAAAAAACpU/Xe9N5H46jRg/s1600/IMG_5365.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />And in closing, do you know Mark Castelo? Because I totally stole his sunglasses..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_InYyQXLYY/VLM1Bh0_EzI/AAAAAAAACpM/MyT3use7GSA/s1600/IMG_5417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_InYyQXLYY/VLM1Bh0_EzI/AAAAAAAACpM/MyT3use7GSA/s1600/IMG_5417.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(he thinks he's getting these back, ha!)</div><br />That's all I have for now (actually, I had written a lot more, but then Blogger disappeared it all into the ether, and so really, this is all I have the patience to write for a second time, for now). &nbsp;I hope to keep more blogular activity for the 2015, in addition to saving another $20 for my Yacht. &nbsp;Lofty goals, I know, but I did get a nice new (to me) laptop (borrowed the money out of my Yacht fund), and the clicky on the keys is soooo satisfying, that maybe I'll be motivated to type more.. Maybe.http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2015/01/oh-hi-there-2015-boats-santini-borealis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-5120616508090084945Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:17:00 +00002014-12-17T18:17:36.333-07:00Announcing the Fist Annual "Bikeworks Party While At Work So We Don't Have to Actually Work" Holiday Party!Hey Everybody!<br /><br />Firstly, lets talk about Holiday Hours.<br />We got the brain trust together, and have concluded that for the week of the Christmas, we will be open Monday and Tuesday, and Closed the rest of the week. &nbsp;For those that prefer numbers, we will be....<br /><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Open December 22 and 23</span><br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Closed December 24 through 27</span><br /><br />I know what you are thinking, "but you guys are closed Mondays!?" &nbsp;I know, right! It's crazy, but we're going to open Monday the 22nd, just to provide great service for our loyal customers' last minute shopping needs. <br /><br />Moving on, lets do some partying at work instead of working!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLtFXGhAey0/VJIpbyFstqI/AAAAAAAAClw/1LCVtbi-QVE/s1600/christmas-parties-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLtFXGhAey0/VJIpbyFstqI/AAAAAAAAClw/1LCVtbi-QVE/s1600/christmas-parties-2.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div><br />On Saturday the 20th, we will be open for normal hours, but we will be goofing off to the best of our abilities. <br />Our plans include buying some trays of Enchiladas, Posole, maybe Tamales, you know, the usual. And of course beverages of all types (you know how we roll). <br />And bad cycling movies! We've got ideas about Premium Rush, Quicksilver, Breaking Away, you know, the classics.<br />So please come by and join us. Bring food, drink, or nothing, we don't care. &nbsp;Just don't expect us to be working on your bike that day, because that wouldn't be good. We will be in the shop from 10 to 6, come by as early as you would like to be seen drinking (we don't judge).<br /><br />That's about it. &nbsp;It's simple, we are partying some here, and we are closing up so we can go party somewhere else.<br /><br />Thanks!<br />Sincerely,<br />Management<br /><br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2014/12/announcing-fist-annual-bikeworks-party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7998545992045994248.post-8595208537627032787Wed, 10 Dec 2014 00:20:00 +00002014-12-09T17:20:10.988-07:00awesomenessridesBlack Friday at Galisteo Basin PreserveAs usual, we were closed on the day after Thanksgiving (AKA Black Friday, in case you didn't know). &nbsp;It's kind of a gross day of consumerism that we can't get behind, even though we are capitalist pigs who shove consumer goods you don't want down your throat every day.<br /><br />So, we went for a bike ride instead of working. &nbsp;This year we got a small crew together and headed to the Galisteo Basin Preserve to try and sweat off some turkey. <br /><br />If you haven't heard of Galisteo Basin, it's a cool little area outside of Eldorado, which is outside of Santa Fe. &nbsp;There was something to do about a requirement that trails be built if houses were going to get built. &nbsp;The trails got built, no houses have really popped up, and the result is a bunch of nice trails stuck out in the middle of nothing. &nbsp;Here's the website....<br /><br /><a href="http://galisteobasinpreserve.com/trails/index.php">http://galisteobasinpreserve.com/trails/index.php</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bTvsDurHRo/VIeLuxFUOcI/AAAAAAAACkQ/uFZpPA_7k5g/s1600/overall_trail_3-10-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bTvsDurHRo/VIeLuxFUOcI/AAAAAAAACkQ/uFZpPA_7k5g/s1600/overall_trail_3-10-14.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div><br />They are real fun trails that are sometimes rideable in the winter when other trails are muddy. &nbsp;We didn't have any fun at all..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuG2w-a5QOU/VIeM0LSv7qI/AAAAAAAACkc/_AQ9L0ZiVtk/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuG2w-a5QOU/VIeM0LSv7qI/AAAAAAAACkc/_AQ9L0ZiVtk/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeb6ws-JteQ/VIeM0E4ee0I/AAAAAAAACkg/RE8SZ75HX1A/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeb6ws-JteQ/VIeM0E4ee0I/AAAAAAAACkg/RE8SZ75HX1A/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcEWroxZ8Qw/VIeM4yAUUSI/AAAAAAAACk8/KBy76uAAHqc/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcEWroxZ8Qw/VIeM4yAUUSI/AAAAAAAACk8/KBy76uAAHqc/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBtdmnDtY44/VIeM2Xds95I/AAAAAAAACks/YQPnrfzRIpU/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBtdmnDtY44/VIeM2Xds95I/AAAAAAAACks/YQPnrfzRIpU/s1600/IMG_0312.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SnAo4QPA1E/VIeM37winsI/AAAAAAAACk0/qXkQUBtMGMY/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SnAo4QPA1E/VIeM37winsI/AAAAAAAACk0/qXkQUBtMGMY/s1600/IMG_0314.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br />Conveniently, Santa Fe Brewing opened a tap room just a couple miles away from these trails in a shopping center in Eldorado. &nbsp;And supposedly you can ride dirt from the tap room to these trails, but we didn't have the local knowledge on that one. &nbsp;We hit up the tap room post ride, but they weren't open yet, so we moved on to my Pop's house for some backyard drinking.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXIYtSqYmVU/VIeQzkFvSMI/AAAAAAAAClI/a0XylPoo8qw/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B1%2B37%2B45%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXIYtSqYmVU/VIeQzkFvSMI/AAAAAAAAClI/a0XylPoo8qw/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B1%2B37%2B45%2BPM.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2GJLPNRBBA/VIeQ1Bt2SKI/AAAAAAAAClU/EYQVTWUWiac/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B3%2B41%2B44%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2GJLPNRBBA/VIeQ1Bt2SKI/AAAAAAAAClU/EYQVTWUWiac/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B3%2B41%2B44%2BPM.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpXFQJt9so8/VIeQ03rL6jI/AAAAAAAAClQ/_Siut22FmBM/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B3%2B55%2B23%2BPM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DpXFQJt9so8/VIeQ03rL6jI/AAAAAAAAClQ/_Siut22FmBM/s1600/Photo%2BNov%2B28%2C%2B3%2B55%2B23%2BPM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br />And that's pretty much how the day went. &nbsp;Hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving!<br /><br /><br />http://www.bikeworksabq.com/2014/12/black-friday-at-galisteo-basin-preserve.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The Bikeworks Crew)1